Legal Term: BAWDY-HOUSE

Definition: crim. law. A house of ill-fame, (q. v.) kept for the resort and unlawful commerce of lewd people of both sexes.

2. Such a house is a common nuisance, as it endangers the public peace by drawing together dissolute and debauched persons, and tends to corrupt both sexes by an open profession of lewdness. 1 Russ. on Cr., 299: Bac. Ab. Nuisances, A, Hawk. B. 1, c. 74, 1-5.

3. The keeper of such a house may be indicted for the nuisance, and a married woman, because such houses are generally kept by the female sex, may be indicted with her hushand for keeping such a house. 1 Salk. 383, vide Danes Ab. Index, h. t. One who assists in establishing a bawdyhouse is guilty of a misdemeanor. 2 B. Monroe, 417.

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