Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
MONEY FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

How Fines Imposed for Offenses Com
mitted the Sabbath Will be Dis
posed OTTO be Distributed for Estab-
fishing and Promoting Sunday Schools.
The question whether the fines collect
ed as penalty for offenses committed on
the Sabbath day could legally be paid into
Courts, and be subject to the lien of county
or city officers for insolvent costs, was
discussed among a number of lawyers at
the court house yesterday. The matter
was referred to the Ordinary, and a re-
porter of the MORNING News was in
formed that it had been the practice to
pay insOlYent costs out Of the fund arising
from fUes, when any amount of money
was on hand in the registry of the court,
after the costs of the officers had been paid.
The Ordinary said that he had not noticed
the law requiring that such fines shall be
paid to the Ordinary of the county as
prescribed in section 1882 of the Code, and
which further prescribes that they are to
be by him distributed for the purpose of
establishing and promoting Sabbath
schools in the county.
SAT any rate" remarked the Ordinary,
sit is not likely that the fines will ever
reach large sum from that source. But
admitting that they will, there are so
many Sunday schools that no one of them
would receive a bonanza. However, the
law is there and should be sustained so
long as it is not repealed"
The Supreme Court, in a decision
reported in 81 Georgia, page 377,
has ruled that ''Where moneys arising
from fines imposed for the violation of the
Sabbath had not been paid to the Ordinary
until after the act of 1875, the lien of Off
! GERS for insOlVent costs attached thereto"
| Hence, said the Ordinary, after the liens
are satisfied the balance will be paid to
the Ordinary.
The reporter then called on Hon. P. w.
Meldrim, who said that the Sunday
schools up in Tattnall county not long ago
got the benefit of a fine imposed for the
violation of the Sunday law, but none OF
/ the schools here had claimed any such
fines, so far as he knew. Mr.. Meldrim
/ cited the case tried in the Tattnall Supe-
| riOr Court. the facts of which were as fol-
| lows:
Mr.. 7. j. Edwards, of that county, kept
! a store near river upon which timber
was rated down to Darien. Some of the
/ raft hands in passing down the stream
| stopped at Mr.. Edwards store, and asked
| him to keep some of their luggage for
| them until they returned from Darien. A
| number of the men returned on Sunday,
and Mr.. Edwards, at their request, opened
! his place of business and gave them their
property. The fact was reported to the
grand jury, who indicted Mr.. Edwards.
| On trial he was found guilty, and SEN
/ fenced by the court to pay q fine OF $50
and costs. The officers of the court got
the costs, but the Sunday school advo-
Gates claimed the fine, and it was turned
! over to them for the benefit of the schools
under their charge.
The reporter then called on some of the
county officials, who at first were inclined
/ to look upon the question as joke, but
when they were shown the law it was init
mated that if any fines Of that class had
been appropriated since 1875 to the pay
| ment Of insOlvent costs the Ordinary
could not claim the money, unless it were
shown that the insolvent costs had been
! satisfied,