and proceed to a hearing of the complaint. No prosecution for any violation of the provisions of law in this chapter referred to must be noticed, unless commenced within thirty days after the commission of the offense. (Ib., Secs. 12 and 13.)

§ 884. The forms prescribed in similar cases for the State of New York may be used in proceedings in cases of disturbing religious meetings in the State of New Hampshire, with the slight changes which the law will suggest. Reference is therefore made to those forms. 866 and 872.)

Ante, Secs. 864,

CHAPTER LXVI.

DISTURBING RELIGIOUS MEETINGS IN VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT-LAWS AND PENALTIESHOW ENFORCED.

§ 885. If any person in the State of Vermont, on the first day of the week, or on any other day or time, shall willfully disturb or interrupt any assembly of people, met together for religious worship or religious instruction, by noisy, rude or indecent behavior, or by profane discourse, either within or about the place where such assembly may be collected for religious worship or instruction, so near as to disturb the order and solemnity of such assembly, the statute provides that he shall be punished by a fine not exceeding forty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to the use of the town in which the meeting may be held. (Gen. Stat. of Vt. 1863, Ch. 93, Sec. 5.)

§ 886. Every justice, sheriff and deputy sheriff of the county, and every constable and grand juror in the town in which any such meeting is held, being present, may, without warrant, upon view, arrest any person so making disturbance as aforesaid, and detain such person in custody during the time of such meeting, or until a trial of such offense shall be had; and all such officers have the same power to command assistance in the execution of the aforesaid duties as sheriffs by law have; and all persons being so commanded, who shall refuse to obey such command, are made subject to the same penalties as persons who refuse to assist sheriffs in the discharge of their office and duty. (Ib., Sec. 6.)

§ 887. If any person shall, within two miles of any place where any camp-meeting is held for religious worship, and during the continuance of such meeting, sell, or offer for sale any kind of spirits, or spirituous liquors, or exhibit any shows or plays, or shall promote or aid any horse-racing or gaming of any description; or shall, during the continuance of such meetings, sell or offer for sale any victuals, drink or merchandise, within two miles of the place of holding such meeting, the statute makes him punishable by a fine not exceeding forty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to the use of the town in which such meeting is held. Licensed retailers, inn-keepers and others, however, may pursue their ordinary business at their usual place of doing business; and all persons may sell victuals in their own houses, notwithstanding the statute, as these cases are expressly excepted. (Ib., Sec. 7.)

§ 888. It is made the duty of grand jurors and constables in their respective towns in Vermont, to make due presentment of all offenders against the provisions of the statute to prevent the disturbing of religious meetings. But it is provided that all prosecutions for the breach of any of the pro

visions of the statute, must be commenced within thirty days after the commission of the offense, and not after. (Ib., Secs. 8 and 9.)

889. In the State of Massachusetts, whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs any assembly of people met for the worship of God, are liable to be punished by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding thirty days, or by fine not exceeding fifty dollars; and whoever, during the time of holding any camp or field meeting for religious purposes, and within one mile of the place of holding such meeting, hawks or peddles goods, wares, merchandise, or, without permission from the authorities having charge of such meeting, establishes any tent or booth, for vending provisions or refreshments, or practices or engages in gaming or horse racing, or exhibits or offers to exhibit shows or plays, it is declared, shall forfeit for each offense a sum not exceeding twenty dollars. It is provided, however, that a person having his regular and usual place of business within such limits, is not required to suspend his business. And whoever, on the Lord's day, within the walls of any house of public worship, behaves rudely or indecently, is liable to be punished by a fine not exceeding ten dollars; and all sheriffs, grand jurors and constables are enjoined by law to inquire into and inform of all such offenses, and cause the provisions of the statute in regard to them to be carried into effect. (Gen. Stat. Mass. 1860, Ch. 84, Secs. 7 and 8, and Ch. 165, Secs. 21 and 22.)

§ 890. Every person in the State of Rhode Island, who shall be convicted of willfully interrupting or disturbing any assembly or people met for religious worship, either within or without the place where the meeting is held, it is declared by statute, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year, or fined not exceeding five hundred dollars. (R. S. of R. I., Ch. 216, Sec. 20.)

§ 891. In the State of Connecticut, every person who shall keep any huckster's shop, booth, tent, wagon, or other carriage, for the sale of spirituous or other liquors, or any articles of provisions whatever, or shall sell or expose to sale, in such huckster's shop, booth, tent, wagon, carriage or in any other way, any spirituous or other liquors, or any articles of provision whatever, within the distance of two miles from any public assembly convened for religious worship in the field, is required to pay for every such offense a fine of seven dollars to the use of the treasury of the town where the offense is committed. It is declared, however, that this provision of the statute shall not prevent any person who shall be licensed to keep a house of public entertainment at the time the meeting shall be appointed, or any person who, at such time, shall be authorized to keep a victualing-house, according to the provisions of statute law, from pursuing his usual and ordinary business, at the place where such business had been previously carried on; nor the committee of any camp-meeting, or assembly convened for religious worship in the field, from making such arrangements for the sale of such necessary provisions as they may deem expedient for the accommodation of persons attending such meeting. It is also provided that no person selling such necessary provisions, by consent of any such committee, shall be liable to the penalties provided. (Gen. Stat. Conn. 1866, Tit. 12, Ch. 10, Sec. 211.)

§ 892. It is further declared by statute that every person who, either on the Lord's day or at any other time, shall willfully interrupt or disturb any assembly of people met for the public worship of God, shall pay a fine, not exceeding thirty-four dollars, nor less than one dollar; and all sheriffs, constables, grand jurors and tithing-men are required upon view, and without warrant, to apprehend every person violating these provisions of the statute, and carry him

before the next justice of the peace, that he may be dealt with according to law; and the justice of the peace, before whom such person is brought, is required, on the oath of the officer apprehending him, to issue a warrant and cause him to be arrested, and thereupon the justice must proceed to a hearing and trial of such matter of complaint. (Ib., Secs. 212 and 213.)

§ 893. The forms prescribed for similar cases in the State of New York, can be conveniently used for all cases. referred to in this chapter. (Aute, Secs. 864, 865, 866 and 872.)

CHAPTER LXVII.

DISTURBING RELIGIOUS MEETINGS IN NEW JERSEY, PENNSYL VANIA AND OHIO-LAWS AND PENALTIES-HOW ENFORCED.

§ 894. In the State of New Jersey it is made unlawful for any person or persons to erect, place or have any booth, stall, tent, carriage, boat or vessel, or other place, for the purpose or use of selling, giving, or otherwise disposing of any kind of articles of traffic, spirituous liquors, wine, porter, beer, cider or any other fermented, mixed or strong drink within three miles of any place of religious worship in the State, during the time of holding any meeting for religious worship at such place. (Revised Statutes of New Jersey, Title 21, Ch. 16, Sec. 1.) ·

§ 895. Any person violating the provisions of the statute aforesaid, must first be informed and warned of such violation by a justice of the peace, constable, or two free-holders