Section 22. Riotous assemblies; proclamation to disperse; penalty for failure to disperse; possession of firearms or deadly weapons
If any persons shall be unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembled together, to the number of twelve or more, so as to endanger the public peace of said police district, it shall be the duty of said marshal (the marshal of police.) in person, or in case of his absence or inability to command, of the officer then in command of said police, to go among the said rioters, or as near to them as he can safely go, and then and there with a loud voice make proclamation in the name of the Commonwealth, requiring and commanding all persons there so unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously assembled, and all other persons not being there on duty as police, immediately to disperse themselves and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business; and if such persons, notwithstanding such proclamation made, unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously remain or continue together, to the number of twelve or more after such proclamation made, then such continuing together shall be adjudged a misdemeanor, and the said offenders upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to undergo a solitary confinement at labor in the county prison, for a period of not less than one month nor more than two years, and any person arrested upon whose person, or in whose possession shall be found firearms, or any other deadly weapon, shall be deemed guilty of an intention to riot, whether said fire-arms or deadly weapon shall be used or not, unless the contrary can be satisfactorily established, and punished accordingly. 1850, May 3, P.L. 666, Sec. 22.