A SUNDAY-LAW INCIDENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1897

A SUNDAY-LAW INCIDENT.

The following from the New York Journal of Jan. 6, 1896, illustrates the beauties of a Sunday closing law:—

“Sarah Blauground, of No. 73 Willett Street, was arraigned in the Essex Market Police Court yesterday, charged with selling a piece of dry goods in violation of the Sunday law. She wept piteously, and begged Magistrate Mott to let her go. Every one in the court room was moved by her appeal, except the magistrate. The woman fainted when her case was called.”

“Morris Schwartz, the court interpreter, explained to the woman that, unless she pleaded guilty, she would be held for trial.”

“You plead guilty, do you?” magistrate Mott said. “Then I’ll fine you $5.00.”

“For God’s sake, don’t fine me,” exclaimed the prisoner. “I have only ten cents in my pocket.”

“‘I don’t care,’ said the magistrate, ‘that’s the law.’”

Five days in prison stared the woman in the face. She begged the magistrate not to send her to prison. Several persons came to her assistance, and asked the magistrate to remit the fine, but he refused to do so. The amount of the fine was then raised among the spectators, and the woman allowed to go.