The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-06-08
THE DUTIES OFJTKORS N RE-
GARD TO THE SCND4I Ia IT,
,COW7A HnicGted.)

We have heretofore cnntenaea that
no matter whar nay be the opinions
Of jurors, called 10 try an accused for
violation of the Sunday Law. it was
the sworn duty of Juror. in a case of
this kind TO disregard his private he
lief as tn the expediencv. or otherwise
OF the law. and to lind a verdict for
the State, if the evidence jnstifed it.
We are happy to say that two of the
los prominent dailies of New Orleans
coincide with our contention. and in
fact, in referring to the matter. EMPLOY
harsher terms than we Y e made use
of in %rehuking the spirit that a~efnates
"A juror to violate his oath OF t,ffice. in
acquitting a man in the face of the
evidence. simply because If the Juror 5
opinion that the Sunday Law Is inex-
pedient.
The reason for the expression OF
opinion of onr New Orleans papers on
the subject il due to miscarriage of
jnstice in the case of Schoen!lansen for
violating lie Sunday Law. Twelve
men We're chosen to try tine case. and
all twelve fOnEd the fact of the viola
ton clearly made ont by the State,
and eleven honest mel on that jury
we're in favor of bringing in Il verdict
in accordance with the law and the
evidence. and in accordance with their
solemn oath, hut. tn their extreme
mortiticatlun and disgust. one r~ecreant
juror named Schumacher refused to
convict. although convinced If the
guiltof the accused.
The Daily States which is bitterly
opposed to the Sunday Law an princi-
pie. is indignant at the action of the
recreant juror. In its own vigorous
language. that paper does not hesitate
to characterize Schumacher as a wilful
perjurer, as he is, in the opinion OF
every good citizen. We transcribe the
words of the States on this subject, at
least. we make a short extract from its
column article on the S~loenhausen
verdict.
1--WE are as much opposed TO this
law as any nan bnt when a party is
put on trial for a violation of it, and a
fairly and to render q verdict in ac-
cOrdance with the law aud the evil
dence. the latter is bound, whatever
may he his opinions of the law. to
comply with his oath, or stand in the
position of a wilful p%u,jurer. No man
a be forced to be a party to the en-
fOrcement of a law totally obnoxious
to him /; he can always evade that act
by declaring IN his voir dire his root
ed and nnalterable preiudices. The
only power to annul a law. however
obnoxious or infamous that law NAV
be, is the Legislature by a bill OF re-.
peal, or a court by a decision declaring
it to be unconstitutional. No indi-
vidual or number of individuals, not
Invested with the power of legislation
or with the judicial power. can exer-
else any such right. Could they do so
all law would be instantly abrogated.
Through Schumacher all men who as
sumo to violate the laws, or perjure
themselves as jurymen to evade the
enforcement of the laws, should be
taught a lesson that will convince
them of their error.
Sin this connection we take notice
of a meeting of liquor dealers last
night. not to organize a movement to
secure a repeal Of this obnoxious law,
but to organize a systematic evasion
of it. When the Sunday law was
pending in the Legislature the States
said 1T was simply 'a law to close up
the front doors and develop the back
DOORS" and this is what the liquor
dealers last night proposed to do.
The back door has been running ever
since the law became operative but
defiance of the Jaws has reached in
deed a dangerous pitch when a meet
ing of any class of men have the cheek
to openly advocate its fragrant viola
ton. A check must be put to this
lawless spirit. This meeting will
simply serve to strengthen the hands
of the Board of Police Commissioners
in the efforts to enforce the Sunday
law. No good citizen, whatever may
be his views of the Sunday law or any
other obnoxious statute, will tolerate
such a bold and dangerous resolution
to disregard the statutes and the
courts and set up a rule of action in
defiance OF the State.
"We have already a political ring
or %despotism of rascality governing the
community through the prostitution
of the ballot. Shall we now permit a
liquor dealers oligarchy to defy the
laws and dictate what statute may be
observed and what shall be trampled
under foot, the two a few months
hence combining into one to lord it
over the people 7"
AS this article is already sufficiently
long, we have no space in which to
reproduce extracts from the Tunes
Democra. article on the same subject.
ANN c. nDnED