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Prostitution

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Abbott (1879)

Definitions from Case Law

From 208 U.S. 393 - United States v. John Bitty · 1908Most cited · 147 citing opinions

There can be no doubt as to what class was aimed at by the clause forbidding the importation of alien women for purposes of 'prostitution.' It refers to women who, for hire or without hire, offer their bodies to indiscriminate intercourse with men.

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

The common lewdness of a woman for gain. The act of permitting a common and indiscriminate sexual intercourse for hire. 12 Mete. (Miss.) 97; 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 610; 102 Ind. 161; 154 111. 647. In Iowa, the term seems to be used in a wider sense than elsewhere prevails. 56 Iowa, 432; 78 Iowa, 492.

In a figurative sense, it signifies the bad use which a corrupt judge makes of the law, by making it subservient to his interest; as, the prostitution of the law, the prostitution of justice.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Common, indiscriminate, illicit intercourse. See 54 Me. 24, 89 Am. Dec. 716.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

The common lewdness of a woman for gain. The act of permitting a common and indiscriminate sexual intercourse for gain. Com. v. Cook, 12 Mete. (Mass.) 97. The act or practice of prostituting or offering the body to an indiscriminate intercourse with men; common lewdness of a woman for gain; the act of permitting a common and indiscriminate sexual intercourse for hire. State v. Gibson, 108 Mo. 575, 18 S. W. 1109. See State v. Stoyell, 54 Me. 24, 89 Am. Dec. 710; Haygood v. State, 98 Ala. 61, 13 South. 325. The act of permitting illicit intercourse for hire, an indiscriminate intercourse or what is deemed public prostitution. IJ. S. v. Bitty, 208 U. S. 393, 28 Sup. Ct. 396, 52 L. Ed. 543. By the word in its most general sense is understood the act of setting one’s self to sale, or of devoting to infamous purposes what is in one’s power: as, the prostitution of talents or abilities; the prostitution of the press, etc. Carpenter v. People, 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 610. In all well-regulated communities this has been considered a heinous offence, for which the woman may be punished; and the keeper of a house of prostitution may be indicted for keeping a common nuisance. A landlord cannot recover for the use and occupation of a house let for the purpose of prostitution; 1 B. & P. 340, n. It is not a crime to let rooms to prostitutes for quiet and decent occupation, nor to permit a house to be visited by disreputable people, if they visit it for innocent and proper purposes; State v. Smith, 15 R. I. 24, 22 Atl. 1119. The object of the provisions of the immigration acts of 1907 and 1910, providing country of women of the prohibited class; and even if a woman married to a citizen might be permitted to enter if she does not belong to that class, yet if she is found violating the statute by being in a house of prostitution, she becomes subject to deportation, notwithstanding her marriage to a citizen; Low Wah Suey v. Backus, 225 U. S. 4G0, 32 Sup. Ct. 734, 56 L. Ed. 1165. June 25, 1910, congress passed the white slave traffic act forbidding the transportation of women for the purpose of prostitution. It was held constitutional; Paulsen v. U. S., 199 Fed. 423, 118 C. C. A. 97. See White Suave Act; Bawdy-House. See Flexner, Prostitution in Europe; Kneeland, Commercialized Prostitution in New York City; Procuration; White Slave.

In a figurative sense, it signifies the bad use which a corrupt judge makes of the law, by making it subservient to his interest: as, the prostitution of the law, the prostitution of justice.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Common lewdness; whoredoni; the act or practice of a woman who permits any man who wlll pay her price to have Bexual intercourse with her. See Com. v. Cook, 12 Mete. (Mass.) 97.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

The act of setting one's self up for sale; in a stricter sense, the practice by a woman of indiscriminate lewdness.

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

In its most general sense, the setting of one's self to sale, or of devoting to infamous purposes what is in one's power. In the more restricted sense (very common), it is the act or practice of a woman offering her body to an indiscriminate intercourse with men; the lewdness of a woman with men generally for hire. It involves the idea of intercourse with The offence of abducting a woman for the purpose of prostitution is not completed by abducting her for the purpose of having illicit sexual intercourse with her one's self. Osborn v. State, 62 Ind. 626. The defendant, by false representations, induced an unmarried female to accompany him, and, having got her intoxicated, had repeated sexual intercourse with her. Held, that an indictment for enticing her away " for the purpose of prostitution " could not be sustained. State v. Stoyell, 64 Me. 24.