The Holly chieftain., 1897-04-16

THIRTY-%I:E STRIPES.
Gently, but it is now West Washington.
j. is separated from the national cap
itul 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 oIrnses IN
that section do not constitute OiTenses
under the laws governing the rest OF the
district. Many OF these old laws though
they may never have been repealed, are
seldom enforced, and then only when
many complaints are made about
certain thing, and the old law books are
oy"rhauled. Now and then one of
these old law books is TesurTeCted. and
for awhile persons have to obey It, but
il soou becomes dead letter again.
and the law Is violated with iaUunity
for another score or more OF years.
Livery few years the question of ohscrv-
ing the Sabbath is agitatcd, Some OF
the old laws are found to meet the case.
Ii is n violation of one OF the Old George
town corporation laws to sell on Sun
day any article except medicines. fresh
fish. milk and other perishaDlc 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 storekcepers to close
their places OIL Sunday. This law. like
many others. has been contested in
the courts and found to be valid.
Then there is another law which pro
Ithitc ,p,ru-I la "a
bath. This law, like the preceding one.
has been contested and held 20 be still
in force. 1t provides:
That more cffectualIy to prevent ir-
regular practices so common on Sun
day. every person working or com
manding, ,r suffering their children or
slaves 10 work, except in cases of ncces-
sity. or otherwise profGne the Sabbath
by gaming, hunting. fishing or other
unlHwful pastincs. shall. on conviction,
forfeit sum not exceeding iiye dol
lars" The second section provides
that "if the offender lie minor and the
fine 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 ii
he be slave he shall be publicly
whipped, not exceeding 30 stripes"
At the West Washington station
house the police have an old law book,
printed in 1921, which furnishes them
the text OF the old laws covering Ger
tain offenscs. There are but few of
these books in existence, so far as is
known, and when case other than as
sauIt and battery or disorderly CON
duct is made the officer making the ar
rest usually has 10 take this book to
court 10 show his ground for action.
The police doing duty west of Rock
creek have not only 10 be ah'c-bodied
Incu, strong and plucky enough to
handle ruiiiuns and smart enough TO
capture thieves, but they have to be
yersed 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 n law passed
August !, 1875. which is intended To pre-
vent accidents arising from gallopinG
horses through streets. The act pro-
vides THAT any person, within the iur-
isdiction of this corporation. who shall
by galloping or otherwise force at an
improper speed any horse, mare or
gelding through any of the streets.
lanes or alleys, shall, If free man, for
felt and pay for every such otlense the
sum of 10 shillings, current money, to
the use of this corporation. to be re-
covered either before any enc 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 shall forfeit and pay the sum OF
seven shillings aud six pence, current
money, to be recovered as aforesaid"
An act of October 10, 1876. sets forth
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 repose of
good citizens" The first section of the
act, and the second section. related to
slaves, who were subject to 30 stripes
on the bare back in public piece. The
firing of guns or other firearms was
made punishable under an act of Octo-
Der "a, 1891. The penalty prescribed
was five dollars, one-half OF which
went to the informer. II the person
violating the law was slave or in
deptured servant the penalty was ten
lashes, unless two dollars was paid by
his or her master or mistress.
An act to prevent goats from running
grf,H
sons power to kill all goats found run
ning at large, and to sell the same Mt the |
to the best advantage, !
the person doing so to retain one-haif |
the money received and the corporation
TO receive the other half. September s,
1904, an act was passed to keep dogs out |