Indecency
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
An act against good benavlor and a just delicacy.
Com. v. Sbarpless, 2 S. & R. (Pa.) 91, 7 Am. Dec. 632.
The law, in general, will repress indecency as being contrary to good morals; but, when the public good requires it, the mere indecency of disclosures does not sufi Sce to exclude them from being given in evidence; Tayl. Ev. 816. The following are examples of Indecency: the exposure by a man of his naked person on a balcony, to public viev^ or bathing in public; 2 Campb. 89; Knowles v. State, 3 Day (Conn.) 10.3; State v. Roper, 18 N. 0. 208; State v. Millard, 18 Vt 674, 46 Am. Dec. 170; Van Ilouten v. State, 46 N. J. L. 16, 50 Am. Rep. 397; or in the house of another in the presence of a young girl; Com. v. Warden, 128 Mass. 52, 35 Am, Rep. 357; or the exhibition of bawdy pictures; 2 Chltty, Cr. Law 42; Com. v. Sharpiess, 2 S. & R. (Pa.) 91, 7 Am. Dec. 632, This indecency is punishable by Indictment, See Brooks v. State, 2 Yerg. (Tenn.) 482; Grisham v. State, id.
589; Com. v. Catlin, 1 Mass. 8; 1 Russ. Or. 302; 4 Bla. Com. 65, n.; Bum, Just. Lewdneas.
And an ordinance making such exposure an offence without reference to the intent which accompanies the act, is a valid exercise of police power; City of Grand Rapids v. Bateman, 93 Mich. 135, 53 N. W. 6.