The Progress., 1893-01-21
DISTRICT COURT.


vened, with Judge 5. l.. Taylor or
the bench.
From the first weeks venire- llaiol
CH. Minge was selected foreman OF
the grand jury, while the following
additional jurors for the same body
we're regularly drawn: Messrs. L. ID.
Hudnell. f. l.. Blewer, &. b. John
son, f. &. Hinkle, A. A. Simpson,
w. II. Kendall, ". A. Bercher, W. +.
Taylor, j. G. Lucar, T. NJ. Elliott, L.
b. Hhillips, j. CT. Gingras, II. l..
McAnn, J. 5 Hutchinson and j. l..
BRYAN. An intelligent body of men
fully competent to deal with matters
of all kinds which may be brought
before them.
On the jury's taking the prescrib-
ed oath Judge Taylo delivered to
them charge Jull of legal learning,
seeking in It's earnestness and
fullness, and embracing every line
and detail of the various mCttars
which should be Investigated by them
One of the main features of the
charge which cOmmends 1t to all
classes Of people who favor pure and
wholesome government, was the at
tention paid to crimes of the nature
which are deIominated misdemean-
ors, the willfull violation Of which, as
the learned iurists well said. is
more injurious to the community
than felonies. from the fact that the
latter is taken notice of by the pub
lie which insures reader convic-
lion.
Following is the greater part of
the charge, the most important feat
ures of it:
Il desire to call your par
ticular and urgent attention to Ger
tain offenses, which, if they prevail
to the extent alleged by some in this !
and other parts of this State, assur-
edly claim your earnest considera- |
tion. L refer to violations of what is /
known as the Sunday law.
1t is publicly asserted that this |
law, if not habitually, is at least fire.
quently violated in this town; that
accesses to some of its saloons and
drinking places is as unrestricted on
Sunday as it is on Monday, and that
liquor is openly sold across the coun-
teron that day.
/ do not know whether these
charges are true, false or exaggerated,
but the fact that they are printed in
a weekly newspaper published in
: this town, whose proprietor certainly
knows the penalty of libelous publ
cation, is most significant fact, one
which should stimulate the officers of
the law to increased vigilance in the
performance of their duty
There is no excuse or paliation for
the offense. Homicide, theft and
other crimes are often committed un-
der strong provocatioD, or still stron-
ger temptation, but violation of the
Sunday law is always deliberate and
premeditated, and its motive is in
variably gIeed for gain. The same
motive would operate If the law had
appointed Monday or any other week
day as the day on which its COM
mands should be enforced.
i call your attention to this sub
iect and urge upon you the necessity
of being vigilant and untiring in your
efforts to bring all defenders to JUS
tice. Such otenses are peculiarly
impudent in this that they are com
mitted in contemptuous disregard of
the law and solely with a view of
gain.
Some men honestly oppose the law
on tbs ground that it is sumptuary
law, or one in resistance of personal
liberty, or :one, the purpose of which
is to enforce religion or morality.
Others, again, oppose it unblushingly,
on the ground that it suspends their
: pursuit of money for one day. These
are the ones who violate it habitually
or occasionally. But it does not
matter what may be the grounds of
opposition. it is the law and must be
enforced against all who do not obey
it.
N Our Supreme Court has held that
is police regulation, enacted un-
r the police power of the State, for
NE purpose of securing peace and
quietitude on the Sabbath and of es-
tablishing one compulsory day of
rest in each week, on which all traf-
fic must be suspended. 1t does not
only forbid the sale of intoyication on
that day. Its prohibition, except in
case of such persons as are enumer-
ated III the third section of the act,
extends to all kinds of commerce car
ried on in stores or other places of
public business, and it is as much
forbidden to give, trade. barter or
sell spool of thread as it is to sell
a glass of whisky on that day.
In some parts of the State this DO
lice regulation is not enforced as it
deserves to be. In New Orleans. no
tably, 1t has besn denounced by some
of the press As an outrageous inva-
sioa OF the rights OF the private citi-
zen-, or else a puritanical attempt to
convert sinner into saint or legis-
late saint into sobriety. Whatever |