Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/318/418/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:07:12+00:00

Document:
1. Since the decision of the county court in this case was not reviewable, on the record made in that court, by any higher court of the State, and since the decision sustained a municipal ordinance against a claim of its invalidity under the Federal Constitution, this Court has jurisdiction on appeal under Jud.Code § 257(a). P. 318 U. S. 421.
2. A municipal ordinance which, as construed and applied, forbids the distribution of religious publications except upon a permit the issuance of which is in the discretion of a municipal officer held an abridgment of religion, speech, and press guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. P. 318 U. S. 422.
It is unnecessary to determine whether the distribution of the publications in question constituted sales or the acceptance of contributions.
Appeal from a conviction and sentence for violation of a municipal ordinance.
"if, after investigation, the Mayor deems it proper or advisable, he may issue a written permit to said person for the purpose of soliciting, selling, canvassing, or census taking within the residence portion of the city, which permit shall state on its face that it has been issued after a thorough investigation. [Footnote 1]"
complaint because the ordinance violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and, at the conclusion of the evidence, there was filed a motion on the same grounds for finding of not guilty and the discharge of the appellant from custody. Both were overruled.
Appellant's evidence shows that she carries a card of ordination from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, an organization incorporated for the purpose of preaching the Gospel of God's Kingdom. The Society is an organization for Jehovah's Witnesses, an evangelical group, founded upon and drawing inspiration from the tenets of Christianity. The Witnesses spread their teachings under the direction of the Society by distributing the books and pamphlets obtained from the Society by house-to-house visits. They believe that they have a covenant with Jehovah to enlighten the people as t o the truths accepted by the Witnesses by putting into their hands, for study, various religious publications with titles such as Children, Hope, Consolation, Kingdom News, Deliverance, Government, and Enemies.
Mrs. Largent offered some of these books to those upon whom she called for a contribution of not to exceed 25 cents for a bound book and several magazines or tracts. If the contribution was not made, the appellant, in accordance with the custom of the Witnesses, would frequently leave a book and tracts without receiving any money. Appellant was making such distributions when arrested. She had not filed an application for, or received, a permit under the ordinance.
money was a solicitation or sale of books, wares, or merchandise. At the conclusion of the hearing, which was without a jury, the judge found appellant guilty of violating the ordinance of the City of Paris, and fined her one hundred dollars.
proceeding, and one not in the nature of a review of the pending charge, in the same or a different court of the State does not affect the finality of the existing judgment or the fact that this judgment was obtained in the highest state court available to the appellant. Cf. Bandini Co. v. Superior Court, 284 U. S. 8, 294 U. S. 14; Bryant v. Zimmerman, 278 U. S. 63, 278 U. S. 70.
"Section 1: From and after the passage of this ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to solicit orders for books, wares, merchandise, or any household article of any description whatsoever within the residence portion of the City of Paris, or to sell books, wares, merchandise, or any household article of any description whatsoever within the residence district of the City of Paris, or to canvass, take census without first filing an application in writing with the Mayor and obtaining a permit, which said application shall state the character of the goods, wares, or merchandise intended to be sold or the nature of the canvass to be made, or the census to be taken, and by what authority. The application shall also state the name of the party desiring the permit, his permanent street address and number while in the city, and if, after investigation, the Mayor deems it proper or advisable, he may issue a written permit to said person for the purpose of soliciting, selling, canvassing, or census taking within the residence portion of the city, which permit shall state on its face that it has been issued after a thorough investigation."
"Appeals from a corporation court shall be heard by the county court except in cases where the county court has no jurisdiction, in which counties, such appeals shall be heard by the proper court. In such appeals, the trial shall be de novo. Said appeals shall be governed by the rules of practice and procedure for appeals from justice courts to the county court, so far as applicable."
"Court of Criminal Appeals -- The Court of Criminal Appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction coextensive with the limits of the State in all criminal cases. This article shall not be so construed as to embrace any case which has been appealed from any inferior court to the county court or county court at law in which the fine imposed by the county court or county court at law shall not exceed one hundred dollars."
Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U. S. 444, 447, 451; Schneider v. State, 308 U. S. 147, 163; Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U. S. 296, 302.
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U. S. 568, 315 U. S. 570-571; Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U. S. 296, 310 U. S. 303; Gitlow v. New York, 268 U. S. 652.

References: § 257
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