Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1881 — INDIANA LAWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWS.

Changes in Public Offenses. Indianapolis Herald. m. The Legislature of 1881, by Sections 91, 92 and 93 of Public Offenees, covers the whole field of printing, selling,’ sending through the mails, and advertising obscene literature. These sections are veiy broad and cover not only the selling of such literature, but also the giving away or having in possession. To give information where such literature may be procured is also made criminal. Section 93 makes it a crime to advertise any secret drug or nostrum purporting to be for the exclusive use of females, or in any way to publish any account or description of any drug, medicine or apparatus for preventing conception, or for procuring abortion or miscarriage. This law will take away quite a revenue from a certain doss ol newspapers in this State. Keeping assignation houses is a new offense created by the acts of 1881. Pimping is also defined and punishment added.

The law of bribery has been changed verymueh. The punishment was formerly imprisonment for a term not more than ten vears; now it is imprisonment not less than two and not more than fourteen years. The new law enumerates what officers shall be deemed guilty of this crime, by accepting money for the purposa of influencing their actions as officers. Jurors, either grand or petit, cannot be bought with impunity under this act. Falsely producing a child as heir for the purjtose of procuring either fa’se or real property, is a felony punishable by imprison men t not less than two nor more than fourteen vears | To substitute one infant for another is also a felonyunder the recent acts, with a heavy penalty provided. A judge who practices law daring the term of nis office is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nor can he keep an office for the purpose of transacting legal business, nor give counsel advice, etc. No one employed by a bank, corporation f or association having banking powers, can act as a notary public in the business of such bank, corporation or associaeion.

To falsely certify to an affidavit, by an officer r.uthorized to administer oaths, is a felony under the acts of 1881. So is it to falsely certify to an acknowledgement of a deed or mortgage. An instrument requiring an acknowledgement must be fully explained by the officer takiug the same to the person signing such instrument if the signiture is by mark. If this is not done the officer is guilty of a misdemeanor.

A notary public who acts after he knows his office has expired is guilty of a misdemeanor. So is a justice of the peace or a constable who in any manner becomes the owner of any judgment upon the docket of any justice. Aiding con victn to escape from State’s Erison by conveying to them articles y which such etcape is to be affected, Is a felcuy. Aiding convicts to escape from a workhouse or jail is a misdemeanor. It is also a misdemeanor to allow any person to escape who is charged with a misdemeanor or bastardy. This will put a stop to buying eff constables and police officers. Disobeying subpoena or citation is made a misaetneanor. Heretofore tho only way to punish thie oihnse was by a proceeding for contempt. Tbe offender can be punished both ways now. To force by threats, or to influence corruptly any juror, public olllcer, or witness, ft) a misdemeanor. B>th lof these laws are Ualntary, as they substitute the certainties d! a criminal action for the uncertainties of a proceeding for contempt. „The list of public offenees enacted by Ihe Legislatuja of 1881, numbers 299 section#. Each of these sections defines distinct crime, aud many ot them several crimes. It is safe to pay that otft of this number one-third have been added as origiual crimes, which did not exist pfiof to tbe time the acts of 1881 went into force.

Besides these added sections, Ihe mode of procedure, or the code, has been thoroughly revised, and many important changes fnsde. One of the most important is a change in the law of "fenue. A change may be granted from the" county at the discretion of the judge, when the offens-e is punishable by imprisonment only. If, however, the crime is punishable by d«ath, a change must be granted if askec. In either case the reason for the change must bo sustained by the affidavit.