While not exactly the trail of the century, an arrest and court case in Naugatuck during the summer of 1897 held the attention of Borough residents. Patrick Conners, who owned and operated a store on Cherry Street, was accused of selling a pound of crackers to Mr. Elijah Sherman Williams, in violation of Connecticut state law. Naugatuck had its own criminal courtroom in the old Town Hall that at this time which was presided over by Judge Hungerford.
BACKGROUND
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In 1897, Connecticut modified the so called “Sunday Law” to require all factories, warehouses, and shops to be closed from midnight Saturday until midnight Sunday in observance of the Sabbath. The law also prohibited the playing of organized sports during that time. The law was not popular with the people and The Naugatuck Daily News in its July 21, 1897 edition referred to the law as “obnoxious”. Some of these old “blue laws” exist today but are slowly being repealed, such as the retail sale of alcohol on Sunday. The fine for violating the Sunday law in 1897 was a fine of no more than $50, which would be equal to about $1,200 today.
The Naugatuck Daily News published an article on Saturday, June 17, 1897 about the Sunday law. In an interview with Attorney Sweeney, the prosecutor for Naugatuck, he stated people should uphold and respect all laws and that it is not the job of the prosecutor to “spy upon his neighbors” to see if a law in being broken. He did say he would prosecute any complaint made by a reputable source backed up by facts but will ignore anonymous and “please-don’t-mention-my-name” complaints as they take up time and resources and make life miserable for prosecutors and court officials. He warned business owners that they if they open on Sunday they do so at their own risk.
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THE CRIME
On the afternoon of Sunday July 18, 1897, Mr. E. Sherman Williams entered Mr. Conner’s store, which was open for business despite the law. Mr. Williams asked for, and purchased, a pound of Daisy crackers, which are similar to graham crackers. Mr. William then made a complaint to the prosecuting attorney regarding the violation of the Sunday law, prompting the arrest and a court summons for Mr. Conners. The Daily News on Wednesday, July 21, 1897 reports that Mr. Conners is a law-abiding citizen and a man of pleasant and jovial disposition and well-liked by all know to him. He is also described as “unfortunately deformed and trying to earn a respectable living”. The paper also stated that he probably opened on Sunday, not as a desire to violate the Sunday law, but simply to accommodate his week day customers who might be in need of some groceries or provisions on Sunday.
The Daily News also reported that Mr. Williams is a citizen of Naugatuck and has been dubbed “Sunday Williams” by some people who don’t like him. He is an advocate of the Law and Order League principles as shown by his course of action in making the complaint against Mr. Conners.
The bias of the Daily News towards supporting Mr. Conners store opening is obvious as the articles take his side in the dispute, questioning the motives of Mr. Williams in making a complaint against Mr. Conners and asking why he did not “make an example of someone who was a more flagrant violator of the law than Conners? Couldn't he find anyone else in town? His action in making a point will, we dare say find but few supporters, for at this late day a few people think is a crime to dispense of the necessities of life on Sunday. The great majority object to the illegal sale of liquor but we dare say that number who would kick at a man selling a pound crackers on Sunday is small as it should be.”
The article states that if a complaint with evidence is made to the prosecuting attorney, he would have no choice but to arrest the individual accused and bring then to court.
ARREST AND FIRST COURT APPEARANCE
On Thursday, July 22, 1897 the daily news reports that the borough courtroom was well filled with spectators when Judge Bissell opened court. Judge Hungerford, the regular judge, was out of town and Judge Bissell was covering the court for him. The paper does not detail the arrest of Mr. Conners but apparently he had been arrested on Wednesday and given a court summons for the following day.
The Daily News reports that prior to the opening of the court Mr. Williams requested the news reporter to be sure to report the testimony accurately and the scribe promised to do so the best of his ability. “The news always reports court proceedings accurately and Mr. Williams may rest assured that this case will be no exception even the reporter does not hesitate saying that he does not like to see a man arrested for selling crackers on Sunday and that he fails to see where there is any more harm in such a fact that there is in a farmer selling milk on Sunday when the railroads and trolley companies being allowed to operate your lines on the Lords day.”
When Mr. Conners was asked to plead to the charges of violating the Sunday law he requested a continuance so that he may find an attorney to represent him. Judge Bissell granted the request and rescheduled the case for July 28, dismissing the eight witnesses in the many anxious spectators in the gallery.
Next: Part 2, Trial and Verdict
http://naugatuck.patch.com/groups/ken-hankss-blog/p/part-2-the-case-of-the-illegal-sunday-sale
