724

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

May enter
suit.

2. Any woman, whether single or married,
whose character or reputation as a woman of
chastity may be traduced or defamed by any
person, may sustain an action of slander in her
own name against such person.

May prosecute
by next friend

3. If the woman so injured shall be a feme sole
under the age of eighteen years, she may prose-
cute such action of slander by her prochein ami
4. The husband of any female may prosecute

Husband may
sustain action.

and sustain an action of slander against any
person for words falsely and maliciously spoken
subsequently to her marriage, touching her
character or reputation for chastity before or
during her marriage.

Effective.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall
take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 5, 1888.

Chapter 446.

AN ACT to repeal section one hundred and
forty-four of article ninety-three of the Code
of Public General Laws, entitled "Testamen-
tary Law," sub-title "Guardian and Ward,"
and re-enact the same as follows :

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General As-

Repealed and
re-enacted.

sembly of Maryland, That section one hundred
and forty-four of article ninety-three of the Code
of Public General Laws, entitled "Testamen-
tary Law," sub-title "Guardian and Ward,"
be and the same is hereby repealed and re-enacted
to read as follows :
144. Whenever land shall descend or be de-

Power to ap-
point guardian

vised to a male under the age of twenty-one
years, or to a female under the age of eighteen
years, or any such male or female shall be en-
titled to a distributive share of the personal es-
tate of any intestate, or to a legacy or bequest
under a last will or codicil, or may acquire any
real or personal property, or estate by gift or by
purchase, and the said male or female shall not