Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-06-29
BLUE laws ALL GONE,
Repeal Of the Sunday Act Which
Caused Connecticut Annoyance.


Caused Connecticut Annoyance.
The Legislature of Connecticut has re.
pealed the old Sunday blue law, under
which many prosecutions have even
recently been pressed. At Southington
last fall Sunday newspapers were sup.
pressed, livery stables were closed, bar
bers pounced upon and various other
alleged Sabbath violators driven under
the ban. In Hartford drug and tobacco
stores were closed and various other
steps of a like nature taken. The re-
pealed law was as follows:
when any justice of the peace shall
have personal knowledge that any per-
son Is guilty Of drunkenness, profane
swearing. c,irsing, or sabbath break
Ing, such knowledge shall DO sufficient
evidence for such justice Of the peace
to render judgment against him with
out previous complaint and warrant,
having first caused such person r. be
brought before him.
Only one vote was cast In opposition
to the repeal. Despite the fact that Con-
necticut In the olden days enforced
many Of the so.called blue laws attrib-
uted to her they were never on her
statute books. They were Pigments Of
the mind Of Samuel Peters, who wrote
q history Of Connecticut about 11SO. This
history was studied in the schools for
. long time. and gradually came to be
accepted rs gospel. Some Of the laws.
which did not exist, but which were
quoted by Peters, are as follows:
Conspiracy against this dominion
shall be punished with death.
whatsoever says there IL power and
Jurisdiction above and over this domin.
Ion shall suffer death and loss Of prop.
erty.
Ne one shall be a freeman or give .
vote unless he be counted and mem.
Der In full communion Of one OF the
churches allowed in this dominion.
No one shall hold any ONCE who IL
not sound In the faith and faithful to
this dominion; and whoever gives o
vote to such q person shall pay a fine
Of fl; for q second offensc he shall be
disfranchised.
No Quaker or dissenter from the
established worship Of this dominion
shall be allowed to give a vote for the
election Of magistrates or any Officers.
No food or lodging shall be offered
to a Quaker. Adamite or hereto.
II any person turn Quaker he shall
be banished and not suffered to return
but upon pain Of death.
No priest shall abide in the dominion;
he shall be banished and suffer death
on his return. Priests may be seized
by anyone without warrant.
No one to cross a river but with an
authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day
or walk In the garden or elsewhere
except reverently to and from meet.
ing.
No one shall travel, cook victuals.
make beds, sweep houses. cut hair or
shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the
Sabbath or on fasting day.
To pick IN ear Of corn growing In q
neighbours garden shall be deemed
theft.
A drunkard shall have master ap-
pointed by the selectmen. who are to
debar him from the liberty Of buying
or selling.
Whoever publishes lye to the pref.
udice Of his neighbOr shall sit In the
stocks or be whipped fifteen stripes.
No minister shall keep school who.
ever wears clothes trimmed with gold,
silver or bone lace. above 2 shillings by
the yard. shall be presented by the
grand Jurors. and the selectmen shall
tax the offender q $500 estate
Whoever brings cards or dits into tho
dominion shall pay fine Of 70.
No one shall read common prayer.
keep Christmas or Saints Day, make
minced pies, dance. play cards, or play
on any instrument Of music except tho
drum, trumpet or jewsharp.
The selectmen, on finding children
ignorant, may take them away from,
their parents and put them into better
hands at the expense Of their parents.
No man shall court a maid In person
or by letter without first obtaining
consent Of her parents; e. penalty for
the first offense, flO for the second. and
for the third imprisonment during the
pleasure of the court.
Married persons must live together
or be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut
round according to cap.