The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-03-24
Che Giterarp Gfbo,
Pawo atwck Advertiser. :.
Analysis Of the Liquor Law.

w f~SAss"Su lew
weeks since the Liquor Law Of this
State, as it is somewhat long and full Of
circumlocutiou, as is usual with laws, we
give the following summing up of the
law, that all may have fair understand
ing Of it; so that when. the question
comes up-Shall the law be repealed p
every voter may put in an emphatic
NO.
The title of the act-An Act for the
more efectual suppression of drinking
houses and tippling shops.
Section l provides that no person
except such as are provided by the law,
shall manufacture or keep for sale any
kind of liquor. a
Section 2 provides for the appoint
ment of an agent in each town or city,
by the town council or mayor and alder
men, to sell liquors for medicinal and
mechanical purposes only.
Section 8 requires bond with sureties
of the agent for proper observance Of
the law.
Section A specifies the fines and pen
altiss to be laid upon those who sell-not
those who drink-a man may lie drunk
from 6 O'Clock, on Monday morning till
5 o'clock aud SO minutes the Monday
morning following, if he can get the
liquor, and still, not no violato- Of the
law, notwithstanding the great bugbear
of its being sumptuary law, prescribing
what man shall not drink so man
may eat arsenic if he secs fit for all the
law, and yet NO one complains of a law
forbiddiDg the sale of it but by proper
persons. If any person, except the
authorized agent sell liquor the penal
ties are-for the FIRST offence, fine Of
twenty dollars and costs, and imprisou-
ment in the county Jail ten days for
the second, a fine Of twenty dollars and
costs, and imprisonment in the county
Jail three months for every subsequent
offence, a fine of twenty dollars AMI
costs, and imprisonment not less than
three nor more than six months. And
al liquors kept for sale are to be forfeit
ed together with the casks or vessels
which shall contain such liquors.
Section 5providcs for prosecutions Of
offences under the fourth section of the
act, which shall be by complaint and
warrant in the name of the State before
any justice of the peace or court exer-
cising the jurisprudence of a justice Of
the peace in the town where the offence
is committed. One-half of the fine goes
to the complainant, the other to the State.
The complainant, by waving his por-
ton Of the fine in favor of the State may
become witness.
Section 6provides for an appeal from
the decision Of a justice of the peace
or court exercising the Jurisprudence
of a justice of the peace, to the Court
of Common Pleas, where the judgment
is final
Section 7 provides for the revoking of
the appointment of the agent appointed
to sell, and the'recovery of the suretics,
if he shall violate the conditions of the
bond.
Section s specifies the penalties for
the manufacturing or being a common
seller of liquors. For the first offence
the penalties are "a fine of one hundred
dollars and costs or Imprisonment for
sixty days; for each subsequent, 6ne
of two hundred dollarshnd costs and i'm
prisonment for four months. Three
several sales constitute common seller.
But nothing in this act prohibits the
manufacture Of cider or the sale thereof
in quantities not less than ono gallon, or
the manufacture Of wine or malt liquors
for domestic use.
Section 9 prcscribes the manner in
which search shall be conducted, which
shall be on a warrant, served in the day