Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-04-08

Gently, but it is now West Washington.
1t is separated from the national cap
ital by Rock creek, and the laws there
are in many instances different from
the laws on the east side of Rock creek.
Many acts punishable as ofrenses in
that section do not constitute offenses
under the laws governing the rest of the
district. Many of these cid laws, though
they may never have been repealed, are
seldom enforced, and then only when
many complaints are made about a
certain thing, and the old law books are
overhauled. Now and then one of
these old law books is resurrected, and
for awhile persons have to obey it, but
ii soon becomes a dead letter again,
and the law is violated with impunity
for another score or more of years.
Every few years the question of obserV-
ing the Sabbath is agitated Some of
the old laws are found to meet the case.
1t is a violation of one of the old George
town corporation laws to sell on Sun
day any article except medicines, fresh
fish, milk and other perishable goods
which cannot be kept over night with
safety, but this law is seldom enforced,
and then only when complaint is made,
or after a general order has been is
sued notifying storekeepers to close
their places on Sunday. This law. like
many others, has been contested in
the courts and found to be valid.
Then there is another law which pro-
hibits any manual labor on the Sab
bath. This law, like the preceding one,
has been contested and held 70 be still
in force. 1t provides:
That more effectually to prevent ir-
regular practices so common on Sun
day, every person working or COM
manding, or suffering their children or
slaves TO work, except in cases of neces-
sity, or otherwise profane the Sabbath
by gaming, hunting, fishing or other
Hnl4wful pastimes, shall, on conviction.
forfeit sum not exceeding five dol
lars" The second section provides
that IF the offender be a minor and the
dine is not paid by himself, parent,
guardian or master, he shall be forth
with committed to the penitentiary for
a time not exceeding five days. or if
he be a slave he shall be publicly
whipped, not exceeding 80 stripes"
AT the West Washington station
house the police have an old law book,
printed in 1921, which furnishes them
tie text of the old laws covering Ger
tain offenses. There are but few of
these books in existence, so far as is
known, and when a case other than as
Sault and battery or disorderly con-
duet is made the officer making the ar
rest usually has 10 take this book to
court to show his ground for action.
The police doing duty west of Rock
creek have not only TO be able bodied
anep, strong and plucky enough to
handle rutfians and smart enough TO
capture thieves, but they have to be
versed in all the ancient laws of George
town. Most of them can stand for
hours and discuss the legal status of
their section.
Reported in the book is law passed
August 4, 1905, which is intended to pre-
vent accidents arising from galloping
horses through streets. The act pro-
vides That any person, within the iur-
fsdiction of this corporation, who shall
by galloping or otherwise force at an
iuplopeI specu any nOTse, mare OF
gelding through any of the streets,
danes or alleys, shall, if free man, for
felt and pay for every such ofrense the
sum of Is shillings, current money, to
the use of this corporation, to be re-
covered either before any one aldermen
or by indictment or confession in the
mayors court; and If an apprentice, in
dentured servant or slave, the mistress
or master of such apprentice, servant or
slave snail forfeit and pay the sum Of
seven billings and six pence, current
money, to be recovered as aforesaid"
An act of October 10, 1876, sets fort h
that 1.-THE respectable inhabitants have
suffered great Inconvenience from the
vast concourse of idle white and black
persons who frequently assemble and
engage in cock fights, at which times
they drink to excess, became riotous
and prevent the quiet and reposc OF
good citizens" The first section of the
act, and the second section, related to
slaves. who We're subject to 30 stripes
OF the bare back in public place Th'
firing of guns or other firearms was
made punishable under an act of Octo
9s y