WILLIAM GRASON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR

1838.

or reputation for chastity of a feme sole, and tending
to the injury thereof, shall he deemed slander, and
shall he treated as such in the several courts of law in
this State.

CHAP. 115.

Deemed slander.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be
lawful for any feme sole of this State, whose character
or reputation as a woman of chastity may be tradu-
ced or defamed by any person or persons, to sustain
an action of slander against such person or persons,
before a court and jury of the State, and to have judg-
ment on such verdict as the jury may render in her fa-
vor.

Feme sole may in-

stitute suit.

And have judg-

ment.

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That when any feme sole,
who shall be under the age of twenty-one years, shall
be injured in her character or reputation as aforesaid,
it shall and may be lawful for her prochein ami to sus-
tain an action of slander against any such person or
persons so injuring the reputation or character of such
female, in the manner and form aforesaid.

If under age.

Prochein ami.

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be
lawful for the husband of any female, to prosecute and
sustain an action of slander, against any person or
persons, for words maliciously spoken subsequent to
the marriage of said female, touching the character or
reputation for chastity of said female previous to her
marriage, and to recover damages as aforesaid.

Husband may sue

and recover.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That all proceedings un-
der this act shall be the same as those now used in the
courts of law of this State, in actions of slander; and
that all the principles of. law, both common and statu-
tory, now applicable to cases of slander, except such
as are inconsistent with the provisions of this act,
shall apply also to all such cases, as are herein con-
templated.

CHAPTER 115.

Process directed.

An act to divorce Rebecca Barron, of Prince George's
County, from her husband Samuel Barron.

Passed Mar. 5,
1839.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Rebecca Barron, of Prince George's county, be

Divorce.