The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-06-21
SUNDAY BASE BALL WILL. NOT
BE ALLOWED.

Sheriff Watson Stopped Game Ad-
vertised for last Sunday and Gives
Notice that the Law Will be En-
foroed-Pubiie Sentiment En-
dorses Action Taken.
A game of base ball was advertised
to be played in this city on Sunday
last. When Sheriff John Watson heard
of it he promptly announced that the
players would be arrested if they at
tempted to play, also serving notice on
the manager of grounds to that effect
Result: No Game. The crowd gather
ed at the park, the Owosso team appear
ed prepared to play but the Bay City
players showed good Judgment and
refused TO take chances of an arrest.
Sheriff Watson with other officers were
on the grounds and warned the players
that their arrest would follow if they
started the game. The crowd soon dis
persed and again an attempt to desc.
crate the Sabbath by ball playing was
at an end.
The parties concerned might as well
understand one time as another that
public sentiment in Owosso is decidedly
against bail playing on Sunday and
that the officers will be given hearty
support in their endeavor to enforce
, the law in this respect. This Sheriff
Watson discovered on Sunday by the
frequent telephone messages he receiv-
ed commencing him for the announce
ment published on Saturday stating
that the law would be enforced. The
pastors Of the Congregational and
Baptist churches referred to his posi-
tion in their sermons Sunday morning
and asked those present to stand with
him for the observance of the law.
Both Sheriff Watson and Prosecutor
Hicks can pc depended upon to do their
full duty along this line and we be.
lieve that the people about the county
will commend them for 30 doing.
The law relating to this matter is as
follows:
Section 5912 compiled laws 1897 pro-
yides among other things that no per-
son shall take part in any sport, game,
or play on the first day of the week, and
every person so offending shall be pun.
ished by fine not exceeding $40 for each
offense.
Section 1884 of the compiled laws OF
1897 provides among other things that
''if any persons to the number of thirty
or more whether armed or not shall De
unlawfully, riotously, or tumultuously
assembled in any city, township or vii.
lage, it shall be the duty of the sheriff
of the county and his deputies to &C
among the persons so assembled and in
the name of the People of this State
demand all persons so assembled imme
diately and peacefully to dispense"
A breach of the peace is violation
of public order; the .offense of disturb'
ing the public peace and where the stat
ute prohibited the arrest of any person
on Sunday except in cases of treason
felony, and breaches of the peace, bal
game on Sunday was held to be 8
breach of the peace and under our stat
ute game of base ball on Sunday is q
breach of the peace. Justice Grant oi
the Supreme Court, who wrote the opin
ion in the case Of Scougle VS.. Sweet
found upon PIP. 311-25 of the 134 Mich.
Reports says substantially as follows
1t was the duty of the sheriff to prevent
the game, and if the players persisted
in proceeding with it it was his duty tc
| promptly arrest them all, and under
the last named section of the compiled
laws it is expressly made the duty of tn,
sheriff to. suppress every unlawful as
sembly and to arrest and secure the of
tenders, and any neglect on his part 81
to do is made a misdemeanor punisha
BILE by fine not exceeding three hun
dred dollars 1t is the duty of the sher
iff and police officers generally to en-
force those laws which the people hav
enacted for the protection of their lives
persons. property, health and morals
including the laws for the observanc
of the Sabbath.
| Any persons assembled upon Sunda
for the purpose Of playing game Q