Arizona republican., 1901-06-07
THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN,. FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 1901
OLD CONNECTICUT LAWS.
Penalties for Sabbath Breaking. Pro-
 fanity and Gambling

I fanity and Gambling. l
 Thomas w. Hewlings of Champlin
 Conn.,, quartermaster of Thomas C.
 Brown Post. G. A. R., of that place,
 is the possesaor of valuable and in-
 teresting book that contains the acts
 and laws enacted away back in 1750,
 which is being exhibited among the
 members of the legislature. The title
 is Acts and Laws Passed by the Gen.
 erai Court of Assembly of His Maj
 esty's English Colony of Connecticut in
 New England in America" The book
 was printed at New London and Sold ! by Timothy Green, Printer to the Gov
 error and Company Of the Colony
 Aforesaid, 175O."
 Several pages are devoted to the ob- | servance of the Lords day. The act is | entitled "An act for the due observance
 and keeping the Sabbath, the Lord s
 day, and for preventing and punish ing disorders and prophaneness on the
 same"
 The act provides that all persons on
 the Lords day must apply themselves
 to the duties of religion. both in public and in private, imposing fine of 3s on any one who neglects to attend public
 worship. Any one who assemblies in a
 meeting house and has a meeting with out first getting leave from the minister
 Is subject to fine of los. No person shall neglect the public worship of God In some lawful congregation and assemble In separate companies in pri- vate houses under penalty of a fine of los. Any one who worked or played on the Sabbath was subject to a fine of los, and the penalty for rude or profane conduct was 40s, and 1t cost POS to travel on Sunday. and a ship could not sail out of the harbor, fines being the penalty for violations. In the event that the person fined refused to pay he was to be 'puhlickly whipt," and no appeal was allowed.
 Concerning swearing, which was pro hibited every day in the week, the law reads:
 Be it enacted by the governor, coun- cil and representatives in general court assembled. and by the authority of the same. that if any person within this colony shall swear rashly, vainiy or profanely, either by the holy name of God, or any other oath, or shall sin fully and wiz kedly curse any person. or persons, such person SO offending shall pay. upon conviction thereof, before any one. assistant or justice of the peace. forfeit and pay for evcry such offense the sum of 6s.
 And if such person or persons so convicted shall not be able or shall re- fuse to pay the aforesaid fine, he or they shall be set in the stocks not ex- ceeding three hours and not less than one hour for one offense and pay cost of prosecution"
 Gambling or gaming" as it was known then, was prohibited, the act saying that no tavern keeper, ale house keeper or viatualer shall have. keep in or about their houses, outhouses. yards. back yards. gardens or other places to them belonging any dice. cards, tables, bowls. shuffieboard. billiards. coytes. kells, logets or any other implements used in gaming, onr shall suffer any person to exercise any of the said games within their said houses. on pain of forfeting the sum of 4Os." People 1 convicted of playing any of the games were to be fined los. The head of a | family who permitted gaming in his | house was subjected to a fine of POS.
 Concerning the 'gaols." they were to | be kept in good repair. the prisoners l were to bear their own charges and | to use their own bedding and send for their own food The keepers | who injured their prisoners We're to be | 1ned; poor prisoners were to be allowed | to take the oath and the creditor mo- iihed and required to pay for his | weekly maintenance if he insisted on | keeping the prisoner in "gaol."
 The offenses against society were llb erally provided for. the punishment | being fines and imprisonment. and | there were all sorts of laws, the same | IS now. some being more stringent and | somewhat peculiar. viewed from the standpoint of the present century.-l Hartford (Conn) Post