The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-13
'SADBATHLADORBAN
.P[ACEDDYMD.JUDGE
Rockville Jurist In Case Of Two
D. c. Men Gives Notice Of
Blue Laws.

washington suburbanites or plain but
chronic citizens OF Maryland. must do
no bodily labor on the Sabbath that Is
unnecessary!
Justice J. Abby Henderson OF the
police court OF Montgomery county SO
decided today In session OF his court
that will mark an epoch In the history
OF Montgomery county--ju as the old
blue law, upon which his decision was
based has gathered dust on the statute
books for several and sundry cpochs
Of state and national history.
In the face Of this decision. however.
charges OF violating this particular law
brought against Henry tetterner and
Samuel Shepherd. citizens OF Friendship
Heights. Nd. and business men of the
The charges were dIsm ssed because
the justice did not believe they were
supported by proper evidence and fur,
thermore did not believe 1t war the
sentiment Of the community that the
labor the defendants were accused OF
performing should be included In the
law as ..unnecessaryg.' ~
The cases against Latterner and Shep-
herd. which have attracted attention
and a considerable portion OF the Dis
trict, were made the occasion for n
hilarious and county-fair-like outpouring
oil the citizens of Friendship heights.
Crowd In Court.
The body public OF Friendship Heights
transferred itself and. its lares and
penatcs to the Montgomery county court
house at Rockville today, when the
cases against two OF its most respect
able citizens were called under the old
blue law. The case was brought on the
Information OF Mrs. Leonora c. Hill. OF
Friendship Heights, who appeared as
the be-, sole wi witness ness for the prosecution:
the sole witness for the prosecution.
All the rest OF them came to testify
that the defendants didn't do II, and,
anyhow. even II they did. no one cared
boot and that the judge ought to let
1t go at that.
It was partly this attitude on the part
of the population OF Friendship Heights
that led TO the warning of the court
that the blue law Is part Of the regu-
lar working law of the State OF Mary
land. and that II will be enforced.
The first case called was that against
Samuel Shepherd. II appears that on a
quiet Sabbath Mrs. Hill AYERS she found
Samuel Shepherd engaged In gathering
trash about the premies OF his home.
placing 1t In piles and burning It; prun-
Ing fruit trees digging about the roots
of fruit trees. and In other ways per-
forming manual labor.
gomery county. announced to the court
that he wished to withdraw from the
prosecution of the cases. He said Mrs
Hill had charged that he had neglected
bis duty as prosecutor and that he
did not tring these cases. He thoueht,
therefore. he ought to withdraw. The
court stated that II would DO considered
n great favor by the court " Mr.. Bowie
would remain. Thus pressed the prose-
cutor took hold q the cases again.
Laughter Marks Trial.
Mrs. Hills testimony was punctuated
with the laughter Of the audience. which
the justice vainly endeavored % sup.
press. The defendant. being placed on
the witness stand. categorically denied
the charges Of Mrs. Hill. and asserted
that at the time she charges him with
working he was enjoying a 6abbath
afternoon walk with a neighbour
The court dismissed the case for lack
Mr.. I.atterner was then placed In the
dock. The information brought against
him by Mrs. Hill was TO the effect That
on March rs he labored all day about
his place at Friendship Heights. He
not only pruned fruit trees, burned
trash. etc, but did all manner OF un-
lawful things.
The defendant not only entered a
denial OF the charge. but declared that
on the day In question he wasn't in the
village OF Friendship Heights all day.