The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-05-19
BAILIFFS NOT TO
MAKE ANY ORDERS
Say That Laws of the State
Provide for Sane Fourth.
CITIZENS SHOULD COMPLAIN
Statutes Prohibit Sale or Use Of Ex-
plosives and Town and County Off
Gals Are Compelled to Prosecute Of
tenders When Notified of Violations

The bailiffs have decided this year to
leave the enforcement of the laws which
make possible safe and sane"
Fourth Of July to the citizens rather than
take the initiative as did the board last
year. There is ample law for the citizens
to proceed against offenders and for the
enlightenment of those wishing to restrict
the sale and use of dynamite, gunpowder,
nitroglycerin and gun-cotton Chairman
II. G.. Barber suggests the perusal OF sec
tions 1913, 1906 and 1914 of the public
statutes Section 1913 is as follows.
A person who, between sunset and sun
rise, disturbs and breaks the public peace
by firing guns, blowing horns or other UNI
necessary and offensive noise shall be
fined not more than $50; but this section
shall not prevent person employing
workmen, for the purpose OF giving notice
to his employees, from ringing bells or using
whistles or gongs of such size and weight
in such manner and at such hours as the
seectmen of the town, the aldermen OF
the city or the trustees of the village may
prescribe in writing.
The foregoing quotation from the laws
shows that the citizens of Brattleboro
need not suffer themselves to be kept
awake by the usual hideous noises OF the
| might before the Fourth. There Is
ample law to prevent such orgies as have
occurred in various places IN the country
during the last few years. There Is law
which forbids the sale or use OF iire-crack-
ers and squibs, which leaves but slight
opportunity for the offender to escape II
=, 10 IN Nlnlatnr
1t reads as follows;
Section 1906. A person who has in his
possession cracker, squib, serpent or
Rocket, with intent to sell or set hire to the
same, or sells or offers to sell or give away
the same, or sets fire to or throws a lighted
cracker, squib, serpent or rocket, shall be
fined not more than $40.
That il is about as dangerous for a deal
er to sell toy pistols as il is for Small boy
to use such toy is shown in section 59l4
of the laws of Vermont That section is
as follows;
A person who has in his possession a toy
pistol for the explosion Of percussion caps
or blank cartridges, with intent to sell or
give away the same, or sells or gives away,
or offers TO sell or give away the same, shall
be fined not more than ten nor less than
So, and shall be liable for all damages re-
sulting from such selling or giving away,
to be recovered in an action on the case.
Last year Chairman L. j. Waterman OF
the bailiffs announced several weeks before
July 4 that the bailiffs would not wink at
any violation of the law. He said that
Brattleboro should have "saie and sane
Fourth of July and proved correct IN his
statement. This year his successor, Chair
man II. G. Barber, is inclined to think
that the bailiffs have no more interest IN
the enforcement of the law than any other
citizens. He says that they cannot issue
any official mandate other than to refer
to the three sections of the law quoted
above and suggests that any violation
should be reported at once to the police
officers of the village, town grand jurors
or to the states attorney. Any OF these
officials are obliged to prosecute every
violation reported to them.
Some of the former dealers in Fourth OF
July celebrating material have suggested
that the bailiffs issue permits for the sale
of crackers, squibs and other articles dur
ing certain number of hours but May
or" Barber says the bailiffs are without
authority to make such a rule or to issue
any permits whatsoever regarding the
observance of the national holiday.
The laws quoted above show that 1t
may prove an expensive experiment for
dealers to sell crackers or toy pistols.
There is little doubt that the police de-
partment will be on the lookout for vlolat-
ors and any person wishing to make
complaint against any person for violating
the law can do so by notifying the town
grand Jurors, F. ID. Il. Stowe or X. {.
Bacon. States Attorney Frank e. Bar
Der may also be notified and the law makes
it incumbent upon him or upon any of the
officials named to proceed against Offend
ers.
Last season the bailifi's issued warn
ing to dealers in fireworks not to sell such
material except from midnight July 3 to
midnight July 4. This year no such warn
ing will be issued as the new chairman OF
the board is convinced that the bailiffs
have no authority to make any mandate
in the premises. However, there is little
doubt that Brattleboro will enjoy Fourth
of July upon lines that are sane as the
citizens understand the law and know
that relief can be obtained by simply
notifying the proper officials.