Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-09-13

~ The following communication is from
a gentleman of the highest responsibility from
New York, who has been here through the
summer with his family. They have suffered
themselves by the nuisance of which he COM
plains, and which they with all others desire 10
have abated. He is fully able to speak of the
legal earrings Of the case, because he is a
prominent member of the New York Bar.
All admit the nuisance, and there can be no
question about the power to abate it. No one
waits to see murder committed, or an incen
diary fire house, before the offender is arrest
cd and thus prevented from accomplishing his
designs A single officer on the Beach can
stop this violation Of tie law.
To THE EDITOR -
am glad to perceive that you lately
again called the attention Of the Town Coun-
Gil to the Infamous nuisance, which is daily
exhibited under their very eyes, if they will
open them to see, of men bathing on the beach
Ia public highway in the afternoon, Without
any bathing dress-while the wives and
daughter, Of their own citizens, and Of the
strangers who s0journ here, are left by the
Town Council TO be daily insuted by such in
famous exhibitions.
lately called the attention Of the public au-
ihorilies Of Newport to the practise in an arti-
Gle, which you kindly inserted in your paper,
with structures ofyour own upon the practice,
AMI yet nothing has been dore to abate the nui-
sance called personally upon one of the
Town Council to expos,ula,e with him upon
the subject. lie said that they had consider
cd the subject, hut that they had no power to
pieyeht it. That all that could be done was to
mark the offender, and after the offence was
committed to complain Of him before Justice
of the Peace, admitting that it was unlarjm
to expose ones person on the public Highway,
which the Beach is. That the offence (Which
by common law is an indictaJie one, punisha-
bic by fine or Imprisonment could only be
punished Gjier being committed, but could not
b, prevented.
called NJ on one of the iblrst lawyers Of
Newpor, (whori you well know who inform
ed me (wha, knew before, being something
of Lawyer myself that the Town Council
had ample power to prerent the nuisance CON-
planeL of, and ha, if they would only station
Const bile on The Beach from five clock in
the afternoon until da!k, there would be no
difficulty in preventing men from bathing there,
wi,hou, bathing dress, which is all that is
asked for by the numerous strangers who
spend their summers and Their money literally
in Newport
ain therefore compelled TO say, thai the
Town Councils omission to interfere, is not
for want of power, but for mank Of The ,cW 10
spend few dollars in paying Constable for
being stationed for or hours at the close of
the day on the Beach, to prevent the disgust
ing and dcmoraIizng exhibitions, which are 10
bo seen every afternoon, and thereby depriving
females Of The privilege Of riding or walking on
the Beach, or enjoying it, without being sub
JcCl lO Tic lllSuNo w. IL tHt ip"H
Council has not power TO station Constable
on the Beach 10 prercnt the commission of an
indctable offence, then the People Of Newport
are living without laws, and 1t is time that
strangers knew it, for ,he practice to which
now (in behalf OF the women Of Newport, as
well as the wives and daughters of strangers,)
call again the attention of the Town Council
TO, would make strong objection with me ev-
or TO spend another summer at Newport.
should prefer Rockaway, Nahan', or other sea-
bathing places, where I can enjoy a ride or
walk in The close of the day with the ladies' of
my family on the Beach, knowing tha, they
will be secure at those places against the in
suits complained of.
J. w. G..