From thirteen to sixteen C.K. Misdemeanour. From thirteen to sixteen Attempt Misdemeanour.
Consent and even solicitation no defence. Reasonable cause to believe the girl over sixteen is a good defence. Charge must be brought within three months.
Subject to civil action for loss of girl's services by father.
Idiot or imbecile C.K. with violence Rape. Idiot or imbecile C.K. without violence Misdemeanour. Personation of husband Rape.
Tacit consent no defence, for obtained by fraud.
Married woman C.K. with consent Adultery. Mother, sister, daughter, C.K. consent immaterial; Incest. grand-daughter born in wedlock or not Females Indecent assaults Misdemeanour.
It is a misdemeanour to give to a woman any drug so as to stupefy her, and so enable any person to have unlawful connection with her.
False charges of rape are very often made. The motive may be to extort blackmail, revenge, or mere delusion. On examining such cases bruises are seldom found, but scratches which the woman has made on the front of her body may be discovered, and the local injuries to the generative organs are slight, if present at all.
_Physical Signs._--In the adult the hymen may be ruptured, the fourchette lacerated, and blood found on the parts, together with scratches and other marks and signs of a struggle. In the child there may be no hæmorrhage, but there will be indications of bruising on the external organs, with probably considerable laceration of the hymen, the laceration in some cases extending into the rectum. Severe hæmorrhage, and even death, may follow the rape of a young child. The patient will have difficulty in walking, and in passing water and fæces. After some hours the parts are very tender and swollen, and a sticky greenish-yellow discharge is present. These signs last longer in children than in adults; but as a rule--in the adult, at least--all signs of rape disappear in three or four days. Young and delicate children may suffer from a vaginal discharge, with swelling of the external genitals, simulating an attempt at rape. Infantile leucorrhoea is common, and many innocent people have been exposed to danger from false charges of rape on children, instituted as a means of levying blackmail. A knowledge of these facts suggests the necessity of giving a guarded opinion when children are brought for examination in suspected cases. Pregnancy may follow rape.