St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-06-27

The Grand Jury. which was
called to convene in special ses-
sion in this city. caused a stir
throughout the parish. when it
returned thirty-one true bills
against as many saloon-keepers,
for violation of the Sunday law.
Only nine saloon-keepers in the
entire parish were not indicted.
Judge B. H. Pavy called the
grand jury to meet in special ses-
sion for the purpose of investi-
eating alleged breach of the law
by saloon men. Investigation
proved that there were at least
thirty-one saloons which have
violated the Sunday law in this
parish.
When giving his charge to the
jurors on Monday morning Judge
Pavy stated that there were
many reports of violations of the
law and that apparently some of
the parish, as well as municipal
officers in the various st. Landry
towns, were not performing their
duty, as they had pledged them
selves. He therefore advised
the jurors to look into and inves-
tigate the actions of the officials,
beginning with the judge on
down. However the grand jury
did not return true bills against
any Of officers either parish or
municipal.
Judge Pavy is fully determin-
ed to put a stop to the Sunday
law violation and will no doubt
impose a light fine on the liquor
men indicated. AS this is the
first case of it's kind, when SO
many saloon men have been
brought before court for keeping
open on Sunday it is thought
that the Judge will not impose a
heavy fine on the accused parties,
he will warn them however that
the next time they will appear
before court for breaking the
Sunday law the maximum of the
law will be meted out to them.
The Judge stated on Wednes-
day morning that some of the
officers had neglected to perform
their duty, and consequently he
called upon every official in St.
Landry to see that the Gay-Shat-
tuach law be inforced.
Mayor Loeb assured the people
of this city that Opelousas will
be kept closed up; he even init
mated that the Sunday law. rela-
tive to selling groceries and to-
bacco etc. well be strictly adherr-
ed to. This will naturally be a
hardship to many in Opelousas,
but the mayor is determined to
enforce the law to the letter.
The report follows:
To the Hon. B. H. Pavy,
Judge:
Your Grand Jury just organic.
ed for the next ensuing six
months and charged with the
duties and responsibilities per-
tanning to that body beg leave to
submit this report:
In as much as we have been
informed that there will be nc
session of the petit jury until the
fall term of this Honorable Court
and that this body will be carried
in session again prior thereto, we
deemed it unwise to call from
their business and occupations at
this particular time, the large
number of witnesses necessary
for proper examination of fel-
ony cases. We have accordingly
limited our labors to an exami-
nation of the Sunday Law viola
tions.
Our examination into the vio-
lations of this law lead US to the
inevitable conclusion, that its
violation is due, in a large meas.
ure, to lax manner in which oul
officers, parish and municipal,
perform their official duties.
We are constrained to believe
that there is a feeling pre-.
vailing in the minds of especially
the retail liquor dealers, that, be-
cause of the amount paid by them
in licenses, the Sunday Law
should be suspended in their be-
half, and special immunity and
privileges accorded them.
Considering that when these
made application and were grant.
na 3 sr,ory,1;t RI aayry an fhn h,lsi.