This legislation has been repealed.
Soliciting alms, cheating etc.7. Soliciting alms, cheating etc. (1) Any person who- (a) solicits gathers or collects alms subscriptions or contributions under a false pretence; (b) imposes or endeavours to impose upon any person or charitable institution by a false or fraudulent representation either verbally or in writing with a view to obtaining money or any other benefit or advantage; (c) wilfully and obscenely exposes his person in a public place or in the view thereof; (d) in or near a public place or within the view or hearing of any person being or passing therein or thereon or in or near any house or premises licensed for the sale of liquors plays or bets or solicits or encourages any other person to play or bet- (i) at or with an instrument of gaming at any game or pretended game of chance; (ii) at or on a game or trick of sleight of hand; (iii) at or on a game or trick played with an instrument which in the opinion of the court is constructed or kept as a means of cheating; (e) being a known or reputed cheat loiters in or near a public place or in or near a house or premises licensed for the sale of liquors and has in his possession an instrument of gaming or an instrument which in the opinion of the court is constructed or kept as a means of cheating, unless such person accounts for his having such instrument in his possession to the satisfaction of the court; (f) being a suspected person or a known or reputed thief or cheat loiters in or about or frequents- (i) any river canal navigable stream dock or basin or a quay wharf or warehouse near or adjoining thereto or a street highway or avenue leading thereto; (ii) a public place; or (iii) a place adjacent to a street or highway- with intent to commit an indictable offence; (g) has in his custody or possession without lawful excuse (the proof of which excuse shall be on such person) any picklock-key crow jack bit or other implement of housebreaking; (h) is found disguised or has his face blackened with an unlawful intent; (i) is found without lawful excuse (the proof of which excuse shall be on such person) in or upon or within the precincts of a building or structure or in a garden or enclosure or in or on board a ship or other vessel in any port harbor or place within Victoria or in a mine within the meaning of the Mineral Resources Development Act 1990; (j) fraudulently manufactures or aids in the manufacture of any spurious or mixed metal or substance or fraudulently sells or offers for sale as unmanufactured gold or as gold in its natural state any metal or mixed or adulterated metal or other substance whether partly composed of gold or not- shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty: For a first offence-imprisonment for two years; For a second or subsequent offence against this section (whether under the same paragraph or not)-imprisonment for three years. (2) In proving intent to commit an indictable offence for the purposes of paragraph (f) of the last preceding sub-section it shall not be necessary to show that the person charged was guilty of any particular act or acts tending to show his intent, and he may be convicted if from the circumstances of the case and from his known character as proved to the court before which he is charged it appears to such court that his intent was to commit an indictable offence.