The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-10-08

divided, as recognized by the ordin-
ahces, into three classes-the slaves
the free negroes and the whites Di1-
ierent punish ments ere provided, for
illustratiol for crimes committed by
or against each of these different
CLASSICS of citizens.
In the event that the regular po-
licemeno the city were unable to
preserve order, or IL for any. other
reason 1t was deemed advisable. any
portion or all of the male citizens be-
tween is and As years of age were
subject to be drawn as patrol for
the streets, their duties continuing
throughout the night for which they
were drawn. Five hours notice was
necessary to be given the persons 81
drawn for patrol, and refusal {"
, answer summons without valid cx-
cuse or without providing a substl-
, tute, was punishable by fine.
Sunday closing seemed to be as
popular in those days as now. The
genesis of the present closing ordi-
nance may. perhaps, be found in an
enactment of the early-day council
that ANY person keeping open bar
Der shop on the Sabbath. after IL
o'clock a. N. shall be fined $40"
Modern burglars were not feared in
those days. If one may judge from
the penalties provided Either bur-
glary or larceny was punishable by a
fine Of from So to $50. or. II commit
ted by slave or free negro, by re-
ceiving not to exceed fifty lashes on
the bare back The same punishment
for either whites or blacks. was pro-
vided for any person, who knowingly
received stolen property.
Artesian Wells and 3nsin.
The artesian wells and basin, as
they were known ia those days. were
protected by the law. The washing Of
any buggy or vehicle, or any animal,
in the streets within fifty feet of the
artesian wells, was punishable by a
fine OF IS. and every person who
shall throw anything into the arte-
sian basin, in Court Square, or injure
the artesian wells in any manner,
shall be fed IS for the first offense,
and $40 for every subsequent offense."
Bathing in the artesian basin at any
time. or in the river within 200 yards
of the wharves or ferries between
sunrise and dark, were punishable h4
fines of not more than IS. Free, Ne
groes violating these sections receiv-
ed not to exceed fifty lashes or were
fined not more than $40. and slaves
received not to exceed thirty-nine
| stripes. unless their rIasters were
willing to pay the!. dnes.
Include mulata&s and all persons of
mixed bloodTd descended on the part
of the f2ksher or mother from negro
ancestorT 70 the third generation In
eAGsiSs. though one ancestor Of each
generation may have been white
person
Illegal voting, at any election Of
the Mayor. Aldermen, or City Clerk,
was punishable by a fine of $50.
A Gas Franchise.
The volume contains many referen-
| ces which prove its age, beside the
| musty covers and the rust marks
where pins have lain for decades. One
of these references Is an ordinance
granting a franchise to John Jeffrey
and Company of Cincinnati. for a Pc
| Rod of fifty years from November 1,
| 1852. to conduct the business.of light
| ing the city with gas. The franchise
granted is an exclusive one no COM
petition being permitted. but 1t Is
based upon the completion. before
May I, 1854. of the necessary apparat-
us and the laying of three miles of
main pipe in the streets of Montgom-
| cry. The city was to be furnished
with gas. under the terms of the old
franchise. at half rate.
| The ordinance was passed by the
Aldermen on August 80. 1852, con-
CURED in by the Common Council Sep
TENDER Is, 1852, approved by Mayor
Samuel D. Holt October 10, 1852. and
/ accepted Dy JOnn jeffrey anu SOlHpd-
ny, through their attorney, Washing
ton Barrow of Nashville, Tenn, on
October 4, 1852.
| The old tome is indexed very COM
pletely by General Sanford, both by
marginal index and by an exhaustive
alphabetical index in the back of the
book. Forms for the various proc
| esses-summons, warrants, subpoe-
mas. bail bonds and appeal bonds-in
the cases brought before the Mayor
who constituted the principal court of
/ the city, were also included
| All in all. it is a very nterestin g
| old volume that Mayor league un-
| earthed, and one which will, no
doubt, be much referred TO in future
years by incumbents Of The office, as
| we'll as by visitors