Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-09
COMMUNICATED.
The Sunday Law

Inc sunday Law.
Every, Mondaywe read in the proceed
ings of the Police Court that Several saloon
keepers were fined for violating the :Sunday
law, J" intact, from the frequent repetition
of this interesting information and the
disgraceful scenes upon our streets witnessed
every Sunday, it would appear that but few
of those to whom the privilege has been
granted to sell Intoxicating liquors observe
the Sunday law upon our statute books, and
in view of this does it not behoove our law
abiding Sabbath-loying citizens to enter
their solemn protest against this wholesale
dissertation Of the Lords day, the holy
Sabbath? We have faith to believe that the
attention OF our honorable Judge need but
be called to this existing and rapidly in
Creasing evil 10 remedy it, Our worthy
Mayor we are pleased to believe, is doing
all in his power to check it. but without
perceptable change for the better. 1t is in
the powor of the Judge, assisted by the
Commonwealth Attorney, to effectually
stop such unlawful proceedings We have
before us a copy of the Virginia Law Journal
| in which is recorded a recent March term)
decision, bearing upon this question, by the
Supreme Court Of Appeals of the State, in
the case of Davis VS.. the Commonwealth.
1t seems that Davis was convicted in the
Police Court Of Richmond of violating the
Sunday law and Judge Christian, of the
Hastings Court, upon motion of the Com
monwealth's Attorney and notice, revoked
his license upon the ground that after such
violation he was not q fit person" 10 have
| license and that his place of business was
thereby rendered not "a suitable and con-
venient" one to be licensed
In answer to the rule to show cause if
any, why his license should not be revoked
the party claimed, 1st, that the Court had
no right to revoke his license and, I'd, that
he had already been punished for the viola
ton, having been fined for the offence, and
ought not to be punished second time for
the same offence.
The Count of Appeals unanimously sus
talns Judge Christian, and quote from the
case as follows:
The authority for the action of the said
Hastings Court is found in section LOG of
chapter 2O6 of the Acts of the Assembly of
1915, page 244." ''The proof is conclusive
to show that the plaintiff in error (Dayisl
had violated the law by selling liquors on
Sunday, which was proved by the record in
the Police Court and for which he had been
fined" This conviction, we think, was
sufficient of itself to justify the court in re-
yoking his license and we heartily concur
with the court below when it says ''This
court claims any person who will thus abuse
license granted by it not fit person
within contemplation of law to be further
entrusted with that license, and for these
reasons and in the exercise of what it deems
sound legal discretion on this subject, has
revoked the license of the defendant 1--WE
think the Judgment of the Hastings Court
revoking this mans licetse was plainly
right; public morals and the safety and good
order OF society require that this dangerous
traffic III ardent spirits should be carefully
guarded and placed in the hands of men
who will observe the law and not violate it.
Ii man having license to sell ardent
spirits shall sell liquors to minors or keep
ms barroom open on election day or on Sun
day, he is not q "ft person. to receive a H.
cense, and when he violates these laws his
license ought to be revoked. 1t is a vain
thing to say that because he has been fined
for either of these otfenses his license can
not be revoked because he has already been
punished for an offence against the law. He
might pay his fine and go on in his illegal
traffic, and might we'll afford to do it and
make money out of the operation. But the
object of the statute is to stop such man
from his unlawful traffic, and to say he is
not fit person" to carry on such business.
Upon the whole case the court is of opinion
that the said Hastings Court was right in
reyoking said license, and that the said
Judgment ofthe said Hastings Court be at.
Above we have the quoted decision and
opinion ofthe highest court of the State upon
this question, and we respectfully call the at
tention of our Comnlonwealth's Attorney to
the same, with the hope that steps NAV be
taken which will result in proper obser-
vance of the Sunday law in our city.
SOBER CITIZEN.