Putnam patriot., 1908-05-22
Again thanking you for the evidence that you have furnished me, am,
 Very respectfully yours,

Very respectfully yours, Hubef n. Card.
 Prosecuting Attorney of the City and Town of Putnam.
 | The Prosecuting Attorney told the committee that he would issue no WAT
 rants for arrest for the sale of candy, l ice cream or soda, but that he would proceed against those who had sold post cards, as that was contrary to the pro vision of the city ordinance. This the
 members of the League did not want
 as they said, if he would not prosecute | for the sale of candy, they didn't care to have him prosecute at all, and ap- pea.ed unwilling voluntarily to appear
 to testify if charges were preferred for
 the sale of pos; cards anly,
 The members of the League who had signed atiidasits 10 the sale of post cards
 were served with summonses to appear
 as witnesses, Monday morning. in the City Court; and the store-keepers who
 had sold post cards were notified Satur- day night that they would bc arrested
 Monday morning in order that they
 might have time to procure counsel. On Monday morning A. A, Broduer, | Albert Jarvis, of Providence street. Jo- seph Paris, Main street, and Roy Paine, clerk for G.C. Talbot, Front street, were l i'll court. They were represented by At torney Chas. l.. Torrey.
 The information against Albert Jar vis, charging him with the sale of post cards on Sunday was read.
 Attorney Forrey said that he had had
 no time te advise with his client, and 1 asked for an adjournment. He alluded to the conflict of opinion af different factions all over the State regarding the 1 Sunday regulation under the State law.
 He understood that the present charges
 were for the sale of post cards only and 1 if decided al this time the whole mat ter of Sunday business will still be left open. These men are not criminals; l the sales were inadsertent. The per.
 sons did not distinguish between what they legally had right to do and what they believed they had right to do. I refer lo certain ordinance of the city and license issued by the Mayor, which may be contrary to the State 1 law Although il k legal maxim that l all persons are presumed to know the l law, We know as a matter of fact that 1 thax+ .Jnt,ft Ieankx-.nfI this xx haIa mat
 ter Is Il broad question.
 The Prosecuting Attorney said he
 was opposed to the motion--ihat II MAS 1 not for his honor to decide what the
 Sunday laws are. had the captain of
 police notify The accused so they could get counsel. l call your Honor's atten-
 tion to the fact that the evidence has
 been furnished me by the Civic League if it makes any difference 10 your Ho-
 nor.
 Judge Russell said he did not eonsid-
 CT himself disqualified to sit on the
 case 1sfor although 1 am member of the Civic League, ! foiesaw this, and have not attended their meetings, and
 have taken no part in their work. l
 only attended one meeting, and that l was about year ago. These cases stand
 on a different basis from most cases | brought before me. There has been an
 ordinance passed by the Common Goun-
 cil of the city, which Is the representa-
 tive body of the citizens of Putnam, | and they have seen fit to pass an ordi-
 nance and held il out as way for
 some people to keep their places of bu-
 siness open on sunday and in way il
 legalizes 1t, or has the appearance oi le- l galizing Il, to those who have taken out licenses. l think 1t would be much i better if the matter coul6 be settled III some other way. Literally the law of ! the State being broken in instances is 1 done by this kind of legislation, and
 while 1t doesn't really legalize it, 1t l gives people some reason to believe that II does. If the city Is to use the license
 money to pay its bills 1t doesn't seem 1 just to prosecute these men who have paid it. 1 think it would be better If 1 some means could be found of revoking the licenses and giving the men back their money. If MT. Torrey's request | IS in order, to try and reach an amica- bIe settlement of the matter, think it should be granted"
 MT. Torrey alluded to the matter as "The first gun of Sunday observance. He said that while he might not think statute law just, he realized it was su- preme. That if he was interested in the matter. and had evidence, and the officials refused to act, he would go to the States Attorney for nandamus, and if he wouldn't grant it, then to the Judge of the Superior court. You could not get one per cent of the citizens to agree that 1t is q reasonable law. The cases were adjourned to Monday, June l.
 W. $. Spearrie, E. K. Smith and Ar 1 thur Bfeault were also in court charged with doing secular work last sunday al the Putnam Inn, where they were engaged in remodeiing the dining room. After hearing ite testimony iii the case of speafrie, the Judge decided, consid- ering al the circumstances of the case l that the work came under the head Of necessity, and he was acquitted. The other two cases, being similar, were noiled.
 
 Admiral (. r. Goodrich is at his