Case Name: Elizabeth Gavin et al. v. State of Mississippi
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1909-10
Citations: 96 Miss. 377
Docket Number: 
Parties: Elizabeth Gavin et al. v. State of Mississippi.
Judges: 
Reporter: Mississippi Reports
Volume: 96
Pages: 377–378

Head Matter:
Elizabeth Gavin et al. v. State of Mississippi.
[50 South. 498.]
‘1. Ceiminal Law and Procedure. Bawdy house. 'Keeper of. Punishment. Code 1906, § 5056. Vagrancy.
Code 1906, § 5055, providing that every keeper of a house of prostitution shall he punished as a vagrant, does not preclude the prosecution of such keeper for the common law offense of keeping a hawdy house.
'2. Same. Vagrancy defined.
Vagrancy, as an offense, consists in general worthlessness; in being idle and, although able to work, refusing to do so, and living without labor and on the charity of others.
Eeom the circuit court of Noxubee county.
HoN. Joi-iN L. BucKley, Judge.
Madame Gavin and others, appellants, were indicted and dried for, and convicted of keeping a bawdy house, and appealed to tbe supreme court. Tbe opinion of tbe court sufficiently states tbe case.
J. B. Rives, for appellants.
George Butler, assistant attorney-general, for appellee.

Opinion:
Mayes, J.,
delivered tbe opinion of tbe court.
The only question in this case which we deem necessary to-discuss is whether or not, under section 5055 of tbe Code of 1906, wherein it is provided that "every keeper of a bouse of prostitution shall be punished as a vagrant," excludes tbe right to prosecute such person for keeping a bawdy bouse.
It is urged by counsel for appellant that, since tbe adoption-of the section above quoted, there can be no indictment of a person as a bawdy bouse keeper, but that in every such case-such person must now be indicted only as a vagrant. We do not think this contention can bo maintained. Tbe common law-still prevails in this state, where not abrogated by statute, and offenses which were such under the common law are still indictable and punishable, and keeping a bawdy house was an offense-at common law, and not abrogated by our statute. One may be-indicted for keeping a bawdy house, which is one offense against the laws of the state, and, again, may also be indicted as a-vagrant,' which is another substantive offense. The keeper of a bawdy house offends the law in allowing, permitting, and encouraging lewd, indecent, and immoral practices; and, when-charged with being the keeper of a bawdy house, this is the thing for which the party is punished. In vagrancy, the offense consist-s in general worthlessness; that is to say, in being-idle, and, though able to work, refusing to do so, and living-without labor, or on the charity of others. It .is thus seen thair these two offenses are as distinct as the night and day.
Affirmed~