Rape - Punishment

Rape is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Every male person of the age of 17 years and upwards, who shall have carnal knowledge of a female under 16 years of age, not his wife, with or without her consent, is guilty of rape. A legal marriage to each other, however, before conviction, shall abate all legal proceedings. Males of 16 years of age and upwards, having carnal knowledge of females, forcibly and against their wills, are guilty of rape. Punishment: imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than one year and it may extend to life. It shall not be necessary to prove emission to convict of rape.

R. S., ch. 38, sec. 237.