PUNISHMENT FOR PERFORMING THE CEREMONY
A heavy penalty is laid also upon one who performs the ceremony for those who marry in violation of the laws against miscegenation. Alabama provides that any justice of the peace, minister, or other person, who knowingly performs the marriage ceremony between a white and colored person, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand and, at the discretion of the court, imprisoned in the country jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months. Arkansas makes anyone performing such a ceremony guilty of a high misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars. Colorado declares that to perform the ceremony is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of between fifty dollars and five hundred dollars or imprisonment between three months and two years, or both. In Delaware, it is a misdemeanor, and the punishment is a one hundred dollar fine. Florida either imprisons the person performing the ceremony not over one year or imposes a fine on him not exceeding one thousand dollars. North Carolina simply defines it as a misdemeanor. Indiana declares that one who knowingly counsels or assists in such a marriage shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. Nevada makes one who performs the ceremony guilty of a misdemeanor and subjects him to imprisonment in the State prison not less than one year nor more than three years. Oklahoma makes it a misdemeanor and imposes a fine of between one hundred dollars and five hundred dollars, or imprisonment between three months and a year, or both. The law of Oregon declares that one who wilfully and knowingly performs such marriage ceremony shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary or county jail from three months to one year and fined from one hundred dollars to one thousand dollars. South Carolina provides that one who knowingly and willingly unites persons of different races in the bonds of matrimony shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than twelve months’ imprisonment, or both. Virginia declares that he shall forfeit two hundred dollars, of which the informant shall get one-half; and West Virginia provides that the one who knowingly performs the ceremony shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not over two hundred dollars.