The herald., 1894-03-26
SAN BRRNARDINo.
The sunday Closing Law to Be Tested.
Notes.

&ne Bunuuy OAubAuR LAW TO BE rested
Notes.
SAN BERHARDINo, March 25.-Two SUNDAYS
have passed quietly away under the Sunday
closing ordinance and no infringement OF the
law has been committed until today, when
Mespelt g. oweger, cigar manufacturers and
retailers, threw their doors wide open and
sold cigars and tobacco over their counter.
This was done after consultation with other
cigar men OF the city for the purpose OF max
ing test case and bringing the constitution
ality OF the ordinance before the courts. EARLY
in the morning the city marshal called upon
them and inquired il they intended to Keep
open all day, and they replied they did. The
ma shal then bought some cigars and tobacco
and went away. IL is understood Mespelt &
Oweger will be arrested early tomorrow morn
ing. Colonel A. B. Paris has been retained to
defend them and to present the law of
is their hest day, and that unless allowed to
sell on that day of the week they will be COM
pelled to go out of business in large numbers.
The city trustees say that II the ordinance
declared unconstitutional they will at once
frame another ordinance and compel the fight
to be made over again In the courts. The only
cigars sold in the city on Sunday without let
or hindrance are those sold on the trains of
the santa Fe railroad When the trains stop
At the depot general rush IL % made 6y the by,
dates back to the last election, wh
the Citizens league put ticket in the
ciared Intention Of restraining saloons
and tfnhorn gamblers The city trustees soon
after being installed in Office revoked licenses
of saloon men not carrying on orderly houses
and reduced the number of saloons from over
80 to about II in the course of q few months.
Gambling houses were closed up and tinhorn
gamblers were run out of the city. Drunken
ness on the streets became OF rare occurrence
and the city Jail soon became ample to hold all
comers. SO far public sentiment certainly sus-
tanned the action of the board. But when the
Sunday closing ordinance was passed, applie-
able to all classes OF business, as well
rs to saloons as heretofore made,
q division of public sentiment arose.
Petitions pro and con were circulated and
signed with practically about even results but
with slight preponderance in favor OF clos
lust where this fight will end 1t is hard to
prognosticate. The Citizens league seems to
Be in earnest and the cigar men have many
warm supporters. The chances are that the
fight will be continued and projected into the
next campaign and become bone of conten-
ton for some time to come.
Saturday afternoon the express team OF Jo-
seph Cadd, standing at the corner OF Third ara
streets, took fright and ran into the curbing
near the San Bernardino National bank, break
ing the shafts of the wagon and throwing
Cadd on the sidewalk, bruising his limbs ana
body severely.
Saturday the second of a series OF games was
played in this city between the Redland and
San Bernardino football teams, resulting In
favor of San Bernardino by score OF IL TO ..
Easter was observed today in all the
churches with appropriate services, ana the
bon ton of the city were out in their. .'Dran new
suits OF clothes"