Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-19
NEW ENGLAND.
Connecticut.

Dr. Bacon's Sunday Rfde-A Breeze
 Raised by the Violation of a Blue
 Law.
 NORWICH, Oct. 19.-In the summer of 1873
 Manager Walker, of the excursion steamer
 Ella, running from Norwich to Watch Hill,
 advertised Sunday excursions and Rev. pr.
 richest parish in the city, delivered terrific
 onslaught against the proposed violation of the Sunday law. He based his attack on the
 old Connecticut ''blue law" that forbids all Sunday travel. His speech was heard by half the citizens of the town of Norwich and produced tremendous impression. The Ella made the excursion and Manager Walker
 was arrested at New London. He was taken
 before the police court there and put under
 $50 bond. He made one more excursion on Sunday, and then in response to 8 petition
 signed by influential citizens of Norwich de-
 sisted. Heading the petition was the name
 of Moses Pierce, president of the Norwich
 line of steamers, who runs his vessels every
 Sunday night of the year. On Sunday af
 ternoon Dr. Bacon took ex-President Hayes,
 who was his guest, and Congressman John
 T. Wait and drove his distinguished guests
 about the city, visiting the principal places
 of interest. By the provisions of the stat
 ute above referred to, Doctor Bacon has rem
 dered himself liable to arrest, inasmuch as he
 acted as a driver for the party, and it having
 been announced that Manager Walker was
 onsidering the propriety of his apprehension
 the writer called on Manager Walker to-day
 and he said ''If I had seen Dr. Bacon or
 MT. Hayes on this side yesterday I should certainly have had them arrested, but as the affair is past think shall do nothing about it. I should like to ask Rev. Dr. Bacon one question, whether he thinks it any worse sin to carry 8 party of poor workingmen who cannot get away any other day down to the sea to get breath of fresh air on Sunday than for him to go riding with MT. Hayes
 on Sunday, when he might have gone Monday just as well. The Sun and orderly and I did not even blow the whistles. No liquor was allowed on board. did think of bringing the question of the blue laws before the public, but am willing to let it rest" Dr. Bacon is out of town and will not return for at least two days Hon. J. T. Wait says neither ex-President Hayes nor himself can be prosecuted under the law is they were neither the owner nor driver of the team. As for Dr. Bacon, as the law stands he can be prosecuted un- less it can proved that the drive was case of mercy or necessity. Wait claims it was a case of necessity and gives
 this reason MT. Hayes is descended from the families of Burchard, Mason and Post, all old settlers of Norwich, and the ex-Presi- dent came to Norwich to visit the old home stead. He arrived Saturday evening and de- parted from the city at 8. m. Monday, con- sequently the only time it was possible to ac- complish the object of his visit was during Sunday. He attended the services at Park
 church in the morning and in the evening, and Dr. Bacon as his host furnished the car riage and accompanied his guest on his visit Wait formed one of the party, as he was &C., quainted with the places. They simply drove to Norwich Town and Bean Hill, where Wait pointed out to Hayes the site of the old homestead. The party then returned to the residence of Dr. Bacon.