Odger's English Common Law

232 OFFENCES AGAINST MORALITY AND PUBLIC DECENCY.
(ii.) Under " rogues and vagabonds " are included 1 :
(a) Every person, who commits any of the above offences,
after having been previously convicted as "an idle and
disorderly person."
(b) Every person pretending or professing to tell fortunes,
or using any subtle craft, means, or device by palmistry or
otherwise to deceive or impose on any of His Majesty's
subjects. Palmistry is now a fashionable amusement ; it is
even alleged to be a science. But if it be practised with
intent to deceive any one—whether scientifically or not,
whether for gain or not—it is criminal in England. 2
(c) Persons wandering abroad and lodging in barns,
outhouses or deserted buildings without visible means of
subsistence, and unable to give a good account of themselves.
(d) Persons wilfully exposing, to view obscene prints,
pictures or other indecent exhibitions in streets, public
places, or in the window or any other part of any shop. 3
(e) Persons wilfully and obscenely exposing their persons
openly with intent to insult any female.
(f) Persons wandering and endeavouring to obtain alms
by exposure of wounds or deformities.
(g.) Persons going about gathering alms or charitable
contributions under any false or fraudulent pretence.
(h) Any person running away and leaving his wife or his
or her children chargeable to the parish.
(i) Persons -in possession of any picklock, keys or other
implements with intent to break into dwelling-houses or
buildings, or being armed with a gun or offensive weapon
with intent to commit a felonious act.
(j) Persons found in any dwelling-house or enclosed
premises for an unlawful purpose.
(k) Suspected persons or reputed thieves frequenting or
loitering on river, canal, dock, quay, warehouse or any street
or place adjacent to a highway with intent to commit a
felony.
1 5 Geo. IV. c. 83, s. 4.
2 Penny v. Hanson (1887), 18 Q. B. D. 478 ; S. v. Enturistlc, [1899] 1 Q. B. 846
but see H. v. Bloodwort (1919), 64 Sol. Jo. 3, 11. The statute 9 Geo. II. c. 5 put a
stop to all prosecutions for witchcraft and sorcery in England.
5 And see the Indecent Advertisements Act, 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 18), s. 3.
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