1760 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 1010

follow immediately after Article 75 1/2, prohibiting actions
for alienation of affections, and for breach of promise to
marry.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new Article be and it is hereby added to the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), said Article to
be, known as Article 75C, to be under title "Prohibited Ac-
tions", and to follow immediately after Article 75 1/2, and to
read as follows:

PROHIBITED ACTIONS

1. (Declaration of Public Policy of State. ) The remedies
heretofore provided by law for the enforcement of actions
based upon alleged alienation of affections and alleged breach
of promise to marry, having been subjected to grave abuses,
causing extreme annoyance, embarrassment, humiliation and
pecuniary damage to many persons wholly innocent and free
of any wrongdoing, who were merely the victims of circum-
stances and such remedies having been exercised by unscrupu-
lous persons for their unjust enrichment, and such remedies
having furnished vehicles for the commission or attempted
commission of crime and in many cases having resulted in the
perpetration of frauds, it is hereby declared as the public
policy of the State that the best interests of the people of the
State will be served by the abolition of such remedies.

2. (Certain Causes of Action Hereafter Accruing Abol-
ished. ) The rights of action heretofore existing to recover
sums of money as damages for breach of promise to marry,
excepting in cases wherein pregnancy exists, and for the
alienation of affections are hereby abolished.

3. (Certain Causes of Action Heretofore Accrued Barred
by Lapse of Time. ) All causes of action to recover a sum of
money as damages for breach of promise to marry, excepting
in cases wherein pregnancy exists, and for the alienation of
affections which have heretofore accrued, must be commenced
on or before August 1st, 1945. All such actions not so com-
menced shall be thereafter completely and forever barred for
lapse of time.

4. (Legal Effect of Certain Acts Hereafter Occurring. ) No
act hereafter done within this State shall operate to give rise,
either within or without this State, to any of the rights of
action abolished by this Article.

5. (Certain Acts and Proceedings With Respect to Causes
of Action Abolished or Barred by this Article Prohibited. ) It