Page:1887 Compiled Laws of Dakota Territory.pdf/1073

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Crimes Against Religion.
PENAL CODE.
§§ 6248-6254

crime, or except where such service shall be specially authorized by law.

Punishment for Sabbath-breaking.
s. 49, Pen. C.

§ 6248. Every person guilty of Sabbath-breaking is punishable by a fine of one dollar for each offense.

Fine collected, how-No exemption.
s. 50, Pen. C.

§ 6249. The fines prescribed in this chapter for profane swearing and for Sabbath-breaking, may be collected in the manner prescribed by law, for the collection of debts; but no property shall be exempt from execution which has been taken to satisfy any such fines and costs.

Maliciously serving process on Saturday observed as Sunday.
s. 51, Pen. C.

§ 6250. Whoever maliciously procures any process in a civil action to be served on Saturday upon any person who keeps Saturday as holy time, and does not labor on that day, or serves upon him any process returnable on that day, or maliciously procures any civil action to which such person is a party to be adjourned to that day for trial, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Compelling form of belief.
s. 52, Pen. C.

§ 6251. Any wilful attempt, by means of threats or violence, to compel any person to adopt, practice or profess any particular form of religious belief, is a misdemeanor.

Preventing religious act.
s. 53, Pen. C.

§ 6252. Every person who wilfully prevents, by threats or violence, another person from performing any lawful act enjoined upon or recommended to such person by the religion which he professes, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Disturbing religious meeting.
s. 54, Pen. C.

§ 6253. Every person who wilfully disturbs, interrupts or disquiets any assemblage of people met for religious worship, by any of the acts or things hereinafter enumerated, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Definition of disturbance.
s. 55, Pen. C.

§ 6254. The following are the acts deemed to constitute disturbance of a religious meeting:

1. Uttering any profane discourse, committing any rude or indecent act, or making any unnecessary noise, either within the place where such meeting is held, or so near it as to disturb the order and solemnity of the meeting.

2. Exposing to sale or gift any ardent or distilled liquors, or keeping open any huckster shop within one mile of the place where any religious society or assembly shall be actually convened for religious worship, and in any other place than such as shall have been duly licensed and in which the person accused shall have actually resided or carried on business.

3. Exhibiting within the like distance, any shows or plays without a license by the proper authority.

4. Engaging in, or aiding or promoting, within the like distance, any racing of animals or gaming of any description.

5. Obstructing in any manner, without authority of law, within the like distance, the free passage along any highway to the place of such meeting.

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