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CHAPTER 392.
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AN ACT in relation to mendicant and vagrant
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children.
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SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
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Guilty of a
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Maryland, That any person, whether as parent, rela-
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Misdemeanor.
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tive, guardian, employer or otherwise, having in his
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care, custody or control, any child under the age of
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sixteen years, who shall sell, apprentice, give away,
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let out, or otherwise dispose of any such child to any
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person, under any name, title or pretence whatever,
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and any person who shall take, receive, hire, em-
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ploy, use or have in custody, any such child 'for the
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vocation, use, occupation, calling, service, or pur-
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pose of singing, playing on musical instruments,
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rope walking, dancing, begging, peddling, or any
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mendicant or wandering business whatsoever, shall
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be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
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Penalty
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conviction thereof, before any justice of the peace,
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or other competent tribunal, shall be fined in a sum
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not less than fifty nor more than two hundred and
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fifty dollars, or suffer imprisonment in a county jail
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for a period not less than thirty days nor more than
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one year, or both such fines and imprisonment, in
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the discretion of the court.
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SEC. 2. If on any examination before any magis-
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Deemed a va-
grant.
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trate, it shall be proved that any child was engaged
in any business or vocation designated, and in the
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manner mentioned in the first section of this act,
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he shall be deemed a vagrant, and shall be committed
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to the custody of the poor or almshouse authorities,
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to be dealt with according to law.
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Approved April 8, 1876.
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