Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09
NEWSPAPERS ARE HELD
TO BE PUBLIC NECESSITY
Justice CrIItchficld DismiSses Blue
Law Cases Against Nirginian
and The Times-Dispatch.
BAGGAGE WAGONS MAY RUN
Judge Richardson Rules in Favor of
Hotel Music, Gasoline Sales, Tur-
kish Baths and BootblackS in
HotoIS-Car-Clcancr Fined.

leaders OF Richmond newspapers
.nIl not be forced TO 20 in Ignorance
OF the worlds Happenings ON sundays.
for Justice Crutchiicld Yesterday held
that the Sunday paper is u necessity,
and dismissed the eases brought by tho
police against the publishers ana cm
ployccs of the Richmond Nrgiuian and
the Richmond Times Dispatch
In announcing his decision in the
case. Justice Crutchilcld said:
"A similar charge was brought
against a sunday paper eighteen or
twenty years ago and at that time I
did not believe the papers "a necessity.
However. times have changed since
then. and with the progress my views
have changed also. ann going To re-
verse my old decision and dismiss the
complaint against the papers here.
Years ago sunday papers might have
been regarded as n luxury; now they
are a real necessity"
S. b. Woodin, general manager of
the Nirginian. and L. II. Rawk foreman
of the composing room of that paper
appeared defendants in the Nir-
gnian's case. ". Douglas Gordon, edi-
torial writer on The Times Dispatch
and R. L. Woody, composng-room fore
man, were defendants in the other case
Mr.. Woodfin was charged with employ
ing Sunday labor. The other three de-
PENDANTS were charged with laborinr
at their calling. All the arrests were
made Sunday, June IS, the first day the
police began operating under the custer
law.
The courts decision in the test cases
was taken to cover all necessary activi-
ties in the preparation. printing and
distribution of daily newspapers on
Sunday.
TAXICABS AND BAGGAGE
WAGONS ALLOWED TO run
The court held also that the opera
ton of taNicabs and FOR hire" We
hicles on the Sabbath was Il necessity
and likewise dismissed those arraigned
on such charges. Among them were:
Harold Vaughan Lloyd. manager of the
Richmond Transfer Company. and his
drivers. Joseph Fowler and j. L. Scott:
y. d. Price and w. ]. Johnson, both
colored. and their colored drivers,
James Coleman and Reuben Alexander.
When il was shown that carriages
had been engaged to take to their
homes persons who had been baptized
by being immersed, Justice Crutchticld
dismissed the complaints. I'm not
going to interfere with religion in any
manner, shape or form" said the court
Although il has been held that the
operation of railroad trains on Sunday
is a necessity, Justice Crutchticld yes
tcrday decided that il is not necessary
to clean tn" coaches or trains on the
sabbath. He fined 4. NJ NIoncurc. OF
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad. So and costs on n
charge of employing men to do this
work. An appeal was noted.
Justice Crutchticld said he had con
sidered the matter carefully, and could
think of no reason why ears could not
be cleaned on week days. Attorney j
&. Taylor, representing the railroad
company, replied that the law imposes
an obligation on tn" railroad to keep
cars clean. and that IL was as ncccs-
Sary Ia do the work on Sunday as any