New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-11
No z,
AN ACT

To suppress riotous and unlawful Assem-
blies, and to provide for the punishment
Of persons participating therein. and to
define the duties of officers of the State 10
regard thereto, and to punish officers and
others for neglect or refusal to discharge
and perform duties imposed upon them by
law.
SECTION ]. Re 1t enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives, Of the State
of Louisiana i'll General Assembly convened,
That if anythree or mere persons, being arm 4
with clubs or any other dangerous veal a
or weapons, or if any ten or more perso o
shall unlawiuly assemble in the city II
New Orleans, or in any other town, city or
parish within the State for any unlawful
purpose, or with intent to disturb the public
peace, or to cause public disturbance, the
persons so assembled shall be deemed
guilty of q misdemeaROr, and upon oOnyio-
tion shall be punished by fine of not less
than one hundred dollars, nor more than
five hundred dollars, and by Imprisonment
not less than theee months, nor more than
six Incnths, at the discretion Of the court.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc, That
IL such unlawful assembly shall occur or
take place within the limits Of the city of
New Orleans, or within the metropolitan
Police District of New Orleans. State of
Louisiana, it shall be the duty OF the Su-
perintendent of Police, or some officer of
said Metropolitan Police to be designated
5v said superintendent or By the Board Of
Metropolitan Police. to go among the per
sons 50 assembled, or as near to them as
may be with safety, and, In the name of the
State, command all the pers ons so assem-
bled Immediately and peaceably to disperse,
and if the persons 30 assembled shall not
thereupon Immediately aud peaceably dis
perss, it shall be the duty of such officer to
command the entire police force. it neces-
sary, "a well as the assistance OF oil persons
there present, to seize, and arrest, and Sc
cure in custody the persona SO unlswfnlly
assem- bled, in order that they may be pro-
ceeded against according to law, and for
the purpose OF 50 dispensing or arresting
persons SO unlawfully assembled such otfi-
Ger or officers may cause such force of pO-
lies and posse oomitatus to be armed in
such manner rs he shall deem adequate to
accomplish such arrest and if such officer
shall report to the chief executive of the
State that the force under his command is
insufficient to effect the arrest of such of
tenders, it shall be the duty of the GOV ernOr
Of the State to forthwith call upon the armed
militia of the State, and such armed force
as shall be at HIS command or within his
control, to aid in Dispensing and arresting
the perseus so unlawfully assem- bled.
SEQ. g. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
If such unlawful assembly shall occur or as
semble in any town. city or parish without
the limits of said Metropolitan Police Dis
triot, it shall DO the duty of the sheriff of
the parish within which such unlawful az
sembly shall take place, or any of his depu-
ties or any justice of the peace IN said par
ish 10 go among the persons so assembled,
or as near TO them as may be with safety,
and Ia the name Of the State to command
all the pereons 40 assemb led immediately
ard peaceably TO disperse, and if the per
sons so assent led shall not Immediately and
pesceaSly disperse, 1t shall be the duty OF
such officer or officers to command the assist
Rnoe OF all persons there present and to SUM-
mon posse coIEitatu4 to assist in seiziug
arrestIng and securing in custody the per
soDs so unIawfully Assem- bled, in order that
they may be proceeded against according 10
law, and IN the event that such force shall
b. 'us liclent to effect the arrest of such
0Brudrrs, II Ehall be the duty Of the Cover
10 canse the armed militia Of the State
to aid in the arrest Of SUCH offenders.
SEC. 4. BE it further enacted, etc That
any person being present aud commanded
by any o the officers mentioned in the pre-
o<'eGlug rec ions +, aid or 2asISt In sclZing
and sccnr.ng such rioters or person, g. IN
Ii wtn'ly sssembled ar in supprcasiug such
unlawful assembly, vino shall neglect or re-
fuse to obey such ro,nnand, or when re-
CURED by any such officer to depart from
such plaos of rioters OF unlawful assembly
shall r. faae or neglect t. do 50, shall be-
deemed - he one of the rioters or persons
50 Gn.A wlnlly ssaemb bed and shall be pro-
secu.H; .ad punished accordingly.
$40 > BE 1t turtner enacted. etc. That
any officer or person charged by this act
with any duty in or about the suppressian
of any rutOus or unlawful assembly who
sbsll neglect or refuse, Immediately after
notice or knowledge of any such assembly
shall come or be brought to him, to pro
eeed to the place of said ASSEM- bly,, or aa
near thereto as be can proceed with safety,
or shall omit or neglect to txercise the au-
taority with which he il In vested by this
act for suppresang s0ah riotous or unlawful