The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-08

| traffic has been conducted brazenly
and defiantly by the denizens of these
unlawful resorts. The people have
been asking each other the question.
| What Is the law on the subject? For
the information of those who desire
the information a complete synopsis
| or the statute is reproduced herewith
An Act TO Enjoln and Abate Houses
and Other Places Of LcWdneSs, Etc.
Section 1. Use Of buildings or
places for lewdness declared a nuis-
anCe. Be it enacted by the general
assembly of the sttae of South Caro-
lima, that whosoever shall erect, estab-
lish, continue, maintain, use, own, oc-
cupy, lease, or release any building
erection, or place used for the pur-
! pose Of lewdness, aSsignation, or pros
titution in the sttae of South Carolina,
| is guilty of nuisance, and the build
ing, erection or place or prostitution is
conducted, permitted, or carried on,
continued, or exists, and the furniture.
hTtures, musical instruments and
movable property, used in conducting
or maintaining such nuisance, are also
declared a nuisance, and shall be en-
joined and abated as hereinafter pro-
vided
Section 2. Attorney general. solici-
| tor, or citizen may bring suit for in
JUNCTION. That whenever a nuisance is
kept maintained or exists as defined
in This act, the attorney general of
the state. or the solicitor Of the judic-
ial district where such nuisance is
kept, or any citizen of the state may
| maintain an action in equity in the
name Of the state, upon the relation of
such attorney general of the state, or
solicitor, or citizen. to perpetuany en-
Join said nuisance, the person or per
sons conducting or maintaining the
same, and the owner or agent of the
building or ground upon which said
nuisance exists. In such action the
| court, or the judge in VACATION, shall,
| upon the presentation of q petition
therefor, alleging that the nuiSance
complained Of exists. allow e. tenn
porary writ Of injunction, without
bond, If the existence Of such nuisance
| shall be made to appear to the salts
faction of the court or judge by evil
| dence in the form of affidavits, depo
'sttlons, oral testimony or otherwise,
Ias the complainant may elect, unless
the court or judge by previous order
| shaH have directed the Nform and
| manner in which it shall be presented
| Three days notice in writing shall be
given the defendant Of the hearing OF
the application, and If then continued
at his instance the writ as prayed for
! shall be granted as matter of course
! When the injunction has, been granted
II shall be binding on the defendant
throughout the state, and any violation
OF the provisions of injunction herein
provided shall be contempt as here
matter provided
Section g., Trial. This section OF
! the act provides the means Of trial,
and provides that evidence of the gen
eral reputation of the place shall be
competent for the purpose of proving
the existence of said nuisance.
Section 4. Violation Of Injunction
This section provides that in case of
TING violation Of the injunction by the
defendant, and the defendant; if found
| guilty of such violation, shall be
fined not less than 5000, nor more than
$1,000, or by Imprisonment in the
county Jail or state .penitentiary not
less than 3 months nor more than six
months, or by both fine and imprison-
ment.
Section 5. Abatement. That il the
existence of the nuisance be esta blish
ed in an action. as provided in this
action, or in criminal proceeding. an
order Of abatement shall be entered as
part of the Judgment in the case,
which order shall direct the removal
from the building or place, Of all fix
lures, musical instruments, or movable
property used in conducting the nuis-
ance, and shall direct the sale thereof
| in the manner provided for the sale
Of chattels under execution, and shall
direct the effectual closing of the
building or place against its use fol
|any purpose and so keeping it closed
for period of one year, unless sooner
released. If any peAson shall break
and enter or use building, erection
or place so directed to be closed, he
shall be punished as for contempt, as
provided in the preceding section.
Section 6. Provides that the county
attorney or solicitor shall enforce the
provisions of this action, upon the
establishment in u criminal proceeding
in court not having equitable iuris-
Edicton. The finding Of defendant us
guilty in such criminal proceeding
yshall be conclusive against the de-
fendant Of the existence of such. nuis-
ance, unless reversed or set aside.