The New York herald., 1879-08-11
CONNECTICUT BLUE LAWS
THE PROPOSED PREVENTION OF STEAMBOAT Ex-
CURsIoNs ON THE sABBATH-A FEW RELICS
OF PURITANlCAL LEGIsLATIoN.

THE PROPOSED PREVENTION OF STEAMBOAT Ex-
cURsIoNs ON THE sABBATH-A FEW RELICS
OF PURITANlcAL LEGISLATION.
HARTFORD August g. 1879.
But short time ago Norwich attained wide
spread nctoriety through the famous Kate Cobb
trial. and seconds it just now by attempt on the
part of of her citizens to enforce Connecticut
statute which has long been obsolete. The Rev.
Hugh Montgomery and other local reformers are the
instigators of movement which threatens to give
them a notoriety less enviable than they
Gently by their campaign against the selling Of
iquor-even the harmless Schenck beer.
The trouble is fast drawing to head The
parties to be proceeded against the proprie-
tors of the steamer Ella, which. during this
has conveyed several excursion parties from Nor
witch to Watch Hill Sundays. It is not denied
that these excursions have been otherwise than
orderly or that they have served useful purpose
in giving DAY of pleasant recreation to working
people who cannot leave their employment through
the week. The parties thus far have been composed
of workngmen and their wives and children, and
there has been such thing disturbance
at any time. Rev. Mr.. Montgomery. however,
sees in these excursions disgraceful violation OF
the sanctty Of the Sabbath Day. and his warning to
the managers that he intended TO proceed against
them has been received in such spirit as to en-
bitter the reverend gentleman and his friends. The
Prosecuting Attorney is prepared to act with the
formers. and it is anticipated that there will be an
interesting scene In the city next Monday
morning.
THE LETTER THE LAW.
The Attorney is sharply criticised for taking cog
nizance Of the cases. but he cannot avoid doing
IL complain. is duly made. for the reformers have
the law at their back, This law, originally enacted
in 1702. remaius on the statute book to-day un-
oho,ffa nd nrtdP n6a
Every person who shall travel or do any secular
business or labor. except works of necessity or
ufacturing mechanical establishment. expose
any property for sale. or engage III any sport or
shall be hned not more than "a less than 81. but
hay wards may perform all their official duties on
such day."
Such Is the statute and it will be seen that It is
quite within the power of the informcrs to carry out
their plans. The arrests must be made II demanded,
and the Court. however lenienty inclined, at
best only i'm the minimum hne of 81 suspend
judgment. is reported that the projectors OF the
movement in earnest. and ii they meet with de-
,nunciation and opposition from persons having no
immediate interest in the case, will proceed to prose-
cutions under other Sunday statutes. Under these
railroad trains may be stopped livery stables closed
! on Sunday. cigar stores sealed. &c.
| In this connection it is interesting to glance at
some OF the singular laws which Connecticut has
retained upon her statute book since the days of
whimsical and bigoted forefathers. That against
Sunday travel. above quoted, Is seldom enforced
| now; yet an occasional is heard of in some of
| the smaller country towns. However IL is usually
|
tain the sanctity OF the Sabbath. At the
| last session OF the Legislature an attempt was
made to d., secure the the. repeal of the =, Sunday
| lete. and that they never be enforced against
public opinion The effort. however. q failure,
us member other than the author of the bill had
the pluck 10 champion il, and even he gave it little
attention. Some OF the statutes are real curiostes
and do not fall far short of the socaled 'Conrect
cut Blue Laws which have been shown in late years
| to have been pure iction-the work of the Rev.
| Samuel A. Peters, who published thom in London in
a snrf of rav fpr mn xrbi bila
SAMPLE cossEcrcur STATUTES.
The following are quoted from the Connecticut
statutes, revision of lSI5;-
EVERY person who shall be present at any
cert of music. dancing or other public diversion
Sunday, or the evening thereof. shall be fined $4"
Enacted In 17S4l
Livery proprietor or driver of any vehicle, not
employed In carrying the United States mail. who
shall allow any person to travel therein Sunday,
between sunrise aud sunset except from necessity
/ mercy shall be fined $40, to be paid to the town
isi4l - w 0'''' : '0'''''''N' ''''' '''' -
Every person who shall blaspheme against God
either OF the of the Holy Trinity the Chris
tian religion or the Holy Scriptures shall he hned
not more than 800. aud imprisoned not more than
one year, and may also be bound to his good be-
havionr." Enacted in 1912
Blasphemy was made capital offence. and was
punished with death, in the code of 1912, and re-
NAMED so until the revision of 1854, when the pen
atty was changed to whipping on the naked body.
not exceeding forty stripes aud sitting In the pillory
one hour. In the revision OF 1921 the present pen
atty was hxed. Regarding sunday travel Connecti-
cut Law reports show decisions that grand Juror
may sight arrest and detlin the offender. and his
excuse that he Is travelling rs matter OF necessity
or mercy must be shown in court. Another deci
sion IL that the accused is not entitled to trial by
jury. but in another 1t is found that Connecticut
Justice is warped toward the almighty dollar inter
ests In q decision that the value of horse hired
Sunday and killed by the birer may be recovered.
The above statutes are quoted as illustrations OF
the sort or laws that this State liz satisfied to have
main upon hor books. But they are seldom never
enforced, nor can they be- They Just US useless
and nonsensical for all practical purposes, some
other laws which impose hne of 81 for swearing,
or which makes horse racing and pool selling Illegal
and provide for the seizure and sale, for the benet
OF the State treasury, of every horse engaged In .
race. tt - fff
THE Blue LAWS DEFrED