RHODE ISLAND.
Rhode Island presents some excellent statutes. They are particularly broad and comprehensive. They are as follows:
Whoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl under the age of sixteen years shall be imprisoned not exceeding fifteen years.
Ch. 281, Sec. 3, Revised Statutes of Rhode Island, 1896.
Whoever shall attempt to have unlawful carnal knowledge of any girl under the age of sixteen years shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten years.
Ch. 281, Sec. 4, Id.
Whoever by threats or intimidation procures or induces, or attempts to procure or induce, any woman or girl to have any unlawful carnal connection either with himself or with any other person, or by false pretenses, false representations or other fraudulent means, procures or induces any woman or girl, not being a common prostitute or of known immoral character, to have unlawful carnal connection, either with himself or with any other person, or applies, administers to, or causes to be taken by any woman or girl any drug, matter or thing with intent to stupefy or overpower so as thereby to enable himself or any other person to have unlawful carnal connection with such woman or girl, or, being above the age of eighteen years, shall by any means whatsoever procure or induce any girl under the age of eighteen years, and not of known immoral character, to have any unlawful carnal connection either with himself or with any other person, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five years: Provided, however, that no person shall be convicted of an offense under this section upon the evidence of one witness only, unless such witness be corroborated by other evidence.
Ch. 281, Sec. 5. Id.
Every person who shall inveigle or entice any woman or female child, before reputed virtuous, or any female child under fourteen years of age not proven by the defendant to have been of previous bad character, to a house of ill-fame, or who shall knowingly conceal, or aid or abet in concealing any such woman or female child so inveigled or enticed, for the purpose of prostitution or lewdness, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five years or be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars.
Ch. 281, Sec. 6. Id.