LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1838.

1281

CHAPTER 69.

A SUPPLEMENT to an ACT, entitled, an Act concerning Crimes and

Punishments, parsed December session, eighteen hundred and thirty-

five, chapter two hundred.

SEC. I. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland^

Case of sale

That in all cases wherein any free negro or free mulatto con-

of convict.

vict, shall be ordered to be sold without the limits of the state,

pursuant to the provisions of the third section of an act of

assembly, passed at December session, eighteen hundred and

thirty-five, chapter two hundred, to which this is a supplement,

there shall be allowed and paid, by the sheriff or other officer

One fourth

making said sale, out of the proceeds thereof, after defraying

of proceeds
as compen

the expenses of the prosecution of the said free negroes or

sation

mulattoes, to the officer or officers apprehending and prosecuting

said free negroes or mulattoes to conviction, one-fourth of the

Balance to
the treasu-

proceeds of said sale, and the balance shall be paid into the

ry.

state treasury.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That of the moneys so paid into

Treasurer

the state treasury, as provided for in the preceding section, the

shall apply

treasurer of the western shore shall apply so much as may be

said pro-
ceeds to the

required for the payment of the interest on the loan hitherto

payment of
interest on

contracted for the benefit of the Maryland Penitentiary, as the

loan to peni-

said interest may accrue; and the balance, if any, after the

tentiary.

payment of the said interest, shall apply to the reduction of

said loan, as far as said balance may avail ; And provided fur-

Or principal

ther, that if for any cause the said loan cannot be reduced at

that time, it shall be the duty of the treasurer of the western

shore, after the payment of the interest as herein before pro-

vided, to invent the balance of said moneys in stocks of this

Or invest in

state, to be set apart as a sinking fund, to meet the payment of

state stock

said loan or loans, at the time or times fixed for the payment

thereof.

CHAPTER 114.

AN ACT to protect the Reputations of Unmarried Women.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,

Malicious

That from and after the passage of this act, all words spoken

words, &c.

maliciously touching the character, or reputation for chastity of

a feme sole, and tending to the injury thereof, shall be deemed

Deemed

slander, and shall be treated as such in the several courts of

slander.

law in this state.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted. That it shall and may be lawful

Feme sole

for any feme sole of this state, whose character or reputation as

may insti-
tute suit.

a woman of chastity may be traduced or defamed by any per-

son or persons, to sustain an action of slander against such

person or persons, before a court and jury of the state, and to

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