The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-19

~. 9G: midnight. 90.
Mean temperature, 80.
A Richmond Lawyer Tells What the
Sunday Laws Are.
Editors Dispatch: The recent determl-
nation OF the Judge Of the Hastings Court
and the Police Justice OF the city rlgldly to
enforce the Sunday laws renders it very de-
sirable that the people should have an accu-
rate knowledge OF what they are. Legally
they are presumed to E70a1 the laws, and
thev will be punished, notwithstanding IN
point of fact they may be ignorant OF them.
The following are the Statutes and ordl-
nances upon the subject:
In the criminal procedure act OF the last
Leeislature-now the criminal law OF the
State-cbapter 7, section II. rage 50, II IS
enacted: " II person, on SaDDath day,
be found laboring at any trade or calling,
or employ his apprentices OF servants IN
labor or other business, except IN mousse
hold or other work of necessity or charity,
he shall forfeit two dollars for each
offence: every day any servant or ap-
prentice is so employed constituting
distinct offence" Section IS excerpts
the transportation on Sunday OF the
mails, and Of passengers and their baggage,
and also the Jews and others who consclen-
tiouslv believe that the seventh day OF the
week ought to be observed as the Sabbath.
Section 10 OF the same chapter enacts:
I. No bar-room, saloon, or other place 1or
the sale OF Intoxicating liquors, ShaH 0e
opencd, and no Intoxicating bitters or other
drink shall be sold in any bar-roon. restau-
rant. saloon, store, or other place, from II
O'Clock on each and every Saturday night
of the week until sunrise OF the succeeding
Monday morning; and any person VIOLA
ting the provisions Of this section shall be
deemed guilty OF a misdemeanor, and, II
convicted, shall be punished by hnc not
less than ten nor more than five hundred
dollars; and shall, moreover, at the dIscre-
ton OF the court, forfeit his license: Pro-
uided, That this law shall not apply to any
city having police regulations on this SUB
icct. and an ordinance inflicting penalty
equal to the penalty inflicted by this sec
tion."
In the City Ordinances OF 1875 (paSe 245.
chapter A, section 13). which treats OF
" cdrious 7,uiSdnceS," 1t is ordained that
every hotel-keepcr and keeper Of restau-
rant, lager-beer saloon, or other place
where ardent spirits, beer, cider, or other
drinks are sold or given away, ShdH close
the bar where such drinks are sold CT given
away every Sunday during the whole day.
At all such times when such bar shall be
open the license under which the business
is conducted shall remain posted in some
conspicuous place i'll the bar-roem. Ana
auy person violating any provision OF this
section shall be fined not less than ten nor
more than five hundred dollars.
1t will be seen that under the statute per-
sons can be punisled-frst, for laboring at
any trade OF calling, or forcing their SER
wants or apprentices soto labor. on the Sab
bath: second, that liquor-sellerS are liable
to punishment for not Eeeping closed their
bar-rooms or other places OF business, or
for selling any Intoxicating drinks therein,
from IL o'ciock; on erery Saturday untI
sunrise Of the succeeding Monday morn
ing.
Under the ordinance liquor-sellers may
be punished who do not close their bars or
other places of business erery Sunday
during the ach0te day. At the May or June
term Of Judge George l.. Christians court
some ten or fifteen persons were indicted
for selling liquor in violation Of the proyl-
sons OF the above 18th section of the sta
tute. In the case that was called the coun-
sci for the accused moved the Court to
uuash the indictment and dismiss the case
upon the ground that the Court had no Ju-
TiSdiction, because by the proviso Of the
said section such cases were remandcd
wholly to the jurisdiction OF the Police
Justice. The Commonwealth's Attorney
(Mr. Wise) was Of the same opinion, but
Judge Christian refused to grant the mo-
ton. and the counsel applied to Judge Jo-
seph Christian, OF the Court Of Appeals, for
writ OF error, which was granted. AMI the
other indictments will be adjourned until
this case, o test one, has been decided in the
Court OF Appeals.
Justice White, on Wednesday, heard and
decided, and tined fifteen cases for viola
tions OF the 18th section Of the State law,
and twelve cases under the 18th section OF
the city ordinance.
There can be no doubt that Justice White
has full jurisdiction to enforce these laws,
even if the Court OF Appeals should decide
that Judge Christian has concurrent iuris-
diction in cases arising under the 18th Sec
ton, which he contends for. Now that it is
intended by those in authority to execute
these laws strictly and literally, it is well
for the people who may be interested to
know them and to study them, lest they may
perchance become victims. Why this fever
to execute them now should have originated,
when they have lain for so long time as Il
dead-letter upon the statute-book with the
acquiescence and without injury to the pub
lie, Am unable to divine, for there have
been no recent violations Of the peace
or disturbance Of good order on the
Sabbath resulting from the non-execu-
ton OF these laws that / am aware
OF but still such Is the law, and IL our
Judges and justices now awake from the long
sleep OF their past inaction, and determine
to enforce vigorously these statutes, let the
people interested take care lest they be
caught and punished. Obey the law is the
duty Of good citizens, and if it be bad
one, and work hardships upon anybody,
apply to the Legislature and have it re-
pealed. But, in conclusion, / will say that
during the time when these laws were not
executed Richmond was rs peaceful, order
ly, moral, and well.bebaved on Sunday and
on all other days as she will be now that
they are to be strictly enforced, and she
will compare fayorably at all times in the
general good conduct OF her citizens with
those OF any city OF the same size on the
continent. - r. D. W.
Messrs. Jarrett s. Palmer have secured,
the Sable Quintet OF Singers for the Man
chester (England) division, OF the Uncle
Tom organization, and they sail for Europe
early in August. Luca, the tenor, is from
Richmond, Va; Taylor, accompanist. from
Charleston, s. c.; Waddy, the basso, from
Hampton, Va; Carrie Thomas, soprano,
from Hampton; Lizzie HaF, alto, from At
-lanta, Ga, and Isabella Miles, prima donna
aSsoIufa from eyv 0rIa0na - phif1dp}nhjD