The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-09
LAW AND ORDER
LEAG UE AND
SUNDAY LAWS
SHERIFF VAN PELT CALLED ON
TO ENFORCE STATUTES AS IN
TERPRETED BY LEGAL AU-
THoRITIES-WILL SERVE ALL
WARRANTS PLACED IN HIS
HANDS.

be served, and / am ready upon
proper affidavit being made to execute
any warrant issued by the proper au-
thorities," was the reply of Sheriff
Van Pelt last evening when asked re-
gaTding his stand anent the action Of
the Law and Order League which
called upon him as sheriff to see that
the laws concerning Sunday Observa-
ton as enunciated by high legal au-
thOrity, were enforced.
The entire correspondence bearing
upon the agitation is as follows:
Letter From League.
Pensacola, Fla, Sept. goth, 1909.
Mr. J. c. Van Pelt, Sheriff Escambia
County, Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Sir: The Law and Order
League Of Pensacola hereby submit
to you an opinion given it by Messrs.
Blount, BIount & Carter concerning
the Sunday law of the state
We hereby request that you see
that the law is carried out as above
interpreted.
Respectfully,
W. B. FERRISS.
Attest: President.
n. G. M'MILLAN, Sec.
The Opinion.
REV. c. w. Gavin, City.
Dear Sir: The writer, at your re-
quest, has investigated the question
submitted for our opinion, whether
the laws of this state or the Ordi-
nances of the city of Pensacola pro-
hibit the sale of articles from certain
places of business and the carrying
on of certain pursuits, business or
trade on Sunday. We shall first con-
slider the question from the standpoint
of the state statutes, which will be
found in Sections 3665-7 general stat
utes of 1906. The subjects inquired
about are: 1. News stands; 2. Nov
ing pictures and kindred shows, 3.
Cigar stands. 4. Drug stores. 5.
Meat and grocery markets. 6. Fruit
and confectionery stands. We shall
treat them in the order named.
1. News stands-f newspapers
only are sold no violations of the
statutes occurs, but the sale Of any
article of merchandise or other peri
odicaI, is illegal.
2 Moving Picture and Kindred
Shows-If operated by manual labor
or with mechanical power, they are
Illegal.
g. Cigar Stands, drug stores, meat
and grocery markets, fruit and con-
fectionery stands-If sales of articles
OF merchandise are made from these
places the statute will be violated ex-
cept that in cases of emergency or
necessity mot merely for the conven-
fence of the customer), the comforts
and necessaries of life may be dis
posed of, where the doors are not
kept open.
Under the city ordinances, selling
or keeping open store for the purpose
of selling drugs, fruit, fresh meat,
breads, newspapers and periodicals,
fresh vegetables, cigars, tobacco, ice
cream, soda water, fish or oysters,
Of wares are not exposed in doors or
on sidewalks), is permitted, but in
other respects, the city ordinances
are similar to the state statutes so
far as the sale of merchandise is con-
cerned. There is no Sunday ordi-
nance prohibiting moving picture or
kindred shows.
Very truly,
BLOUNT, BLOUNT & CARTER.
The Sherit's Reply.
October 2, 1909.
Mr.. w. 3. Ferriss, President Law and
Order League, Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Sir: 1 beg to acknowledge
the receipt Of communication from
the Law and Order League Of this
city, of date OF September 90, A D.,
1909. in reference to violations of the
Sunday law, and enclosing opinion of
Messrs. Blount, Blount & Carter, Civ
en- TO said league. In reply TO same,
say. that while l have high regard
for the opinion of said firm and am
ready at all times to perform my duty
to the letter relative to the enforce
ment of the laws of this state, before
acting herein / desire to obtain the
opinion of the county solicitor, whose
duty it is to prosecute such violations,
as to his Interpretation Of the Sunday
law, ia order that ! may not make
wrongful arrests and lay myself liable
for false Imprisonment by reason of
failure or refusal Of said solicitor to
file information against parties ar
rested. l have, therefore, submitted
the opinion of Messrs. Blount, BlOunt
& Carter to him, the Hon. Scott VI.
Loftin for his opinion regarding said
Sunday laws, and will take pleasure
in communicating to the league his
views upon the same as soon as same
can be obtained.
Yours truly,
!. g. VAN PEBT,
Sheriff.
Solicitors Opinion.
October ?, 1909.
Hon. Scott NJ. Lofrin, County Solici-
tor, Pensacola, Fla