The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-25

sect, which recently launcneO dA intensive campaign in Waterbury, New Britain and Bristol, distributing literature assailing various church organizations particularly the Roman Catholic church, were denied an injunction Saturday, restraining the police authorities of Bristol from arresting their members for distribu- ton of their propaganda.
 The decision was rendered by a constitutional court, especially con- vened to decide the legality of the issues. More than score of accused men and women convicted in the police courts of Bristol and New Britain have appealed from fines and jail sentences and their cases are still pending in superior court or Hartford. It is believed that the decision of the constitutional court holding that the police have right to enforce the statute and make arrests for the distribution of bit- ter and melting literature, will be appealed to the supreme court of the United States. The decsion was rendered by Judge Martin T. Man. ton of the United States circuit court. The city of Bristol was off, cially named as the defendant in the case, while the Watch Tower Bible and Tract society ct al, which is the formal name of Jehovah's Witnesses.
 No Action Here
 No action has been taken in Wa terbury against the Witnesses, al- though literature was circulated and homes were visited by agents, who asked permission to play a phono- graphic discourse on religious tracts. Supt. of Police William J. Roach stated at that time that if formal complaint was made he would take action.
 In Bristol and in New Britain the campaign was particularly bitter and personal. Rev. Thomas Lawlor, na- tive of Waterbury, assistant pastor of St, Mary's church in New Brit ain, was assailed in most deroga- tory manner when he voiced a pro- test against the attacks on the Catholic church. The personal abuse of the young priest had an imme- diate and very definite reaction in the public mind and led to de- mands for the arrests of the guilty circulators of literature.
 Text of Decision
 The text of the decision follows:
 "Complainants, members of a religious organization known as Jehovah's Witnesses, brought this suit seeking 8 temporary and now permanent injunction restrain ing the defendants from enforcing Section 6194 of the Laws of Con- necticut Revision of 1930), decla- ing that it is in conflict with the Federal Constitution. The statute provides:
 "'Breach of the Peace. Intimi- dation. Libel. Any persons who shall disturb or break the peace by tu- multuous and offensive carriage, noise or behavior, or by threat ening, traducing, quarrelling with challinging, assaulting or striking, or who shall disturbe or break the peace or provoke contention by fol- lowing or mocking any person with abusive or indecent language gestures or noise, or shall, by any writing, with intent to intimidate any person, threaten to commit any crime against him or his prop erty, or shall write or print and publicly exhibit, post up or ad- vertise, any indescent or abusive matter concerning any person, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned in jail not more than year or both
 Used Monograph
 Compliments visited the coun- tryside in and around the city of Bristol, Connecticut, preaching their religious doctrines, with the aid of publications which they left with residents and by photographic records whcih they played in the households to which they gained admission. Some were arrested. prosecuted and convicted on charges of violation of Section 6194, criminal offense, as per- sons who shall write or print and publicly exhibit or distribute, or shall publicly exhibit, post up or advertise, any offensive, indecent or abusive matter concerning any person.
 "The relief sought is based on