State v. Woodville Appliance, Inc.

84 Ohio Law. Abs. 390
CourtLucas Circuit Court
DecidedOctober 20, 1959
StatusPublished

This text of 84 Ohio Law. Abs. 390 (State v. Woodville Appliance, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Lucas Circuit Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Woodville Appliance, Inc., 84 Ohio Law. Abs. 390 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1959).

Opinion

OPINION

By CARPENTER. J.

On December 17, 1959, Margaret Bollinger, an employee of the Association, as hereinbefore set forth, filed affidavits in County Court I against all of the defendants, alleging that on Sunday, December 13, 1959, said defendants did violate §3773.24 R. C., and thereupon was issued a subpoena for defendants to appear and answer the charges therein set forth.

The affidavits were in form and substance as follows: “That each defendant did, on the 13th day of December, 1959. in the County of Lucas and State of Ohio, suffer or permit such building or place to be open for transaction of business, or required a person in his employ or under his control to engage in common labor or to open such building or place for the transaction of business on Sunday in violation Of §3773.24 R. C.”

Sec. 3773.24 R. C., as set forth in §3773, Title 37, Health, Safety and Morals, R. C., page 136, and in supplement 1959 Chapter 3773, Title 37, page 19. R. C., are hereinafter set forth: ,

“Sec. 3773.24 R. C. (§§13044, 13045, 13046 GC). Laboring or requiring employee to labor on Sunday.

“No person who is over fourteen years of age shall engage in common labor or open or cause to be opened, a building or place for transaction of business, or require a person in his employ or under his con[392]*392trol to engage in common labor on Sunday. In prosecutions under this section complaints shall be made within ten days after a violation.

“This section does not apply to work of necessity, or charity, and does not extend to persons who conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week as the sabbath, and abstain thereon from doing things prohibited on Sunday.

“This section does not prevent emigrating families from traveling, watermen from landing their passengers, or keepers of toll bridges, tollgates, or ferries from attending them on Sunday.”

“No person, firm, or corporation shall engage in common labor or suffer or permit a building or piace to be open for transaction of business, or require a person in his employ or under his control to engage in common labor or to open a building or place for the transaction of business on Sunday. In prosecutions under this Section complaint shall be made within ten days after a violation.

“This Section does not apply to work of necessity or charity, and does not extend to persons who conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and abstain thereon from doing things' prohibited on Sunday.

“This section shall not apply to:

“(A) Traveling or the providing of services and commodities incidental thereto;

“(B) Recreation, sports, amusements, entertainment, or exhibitions or the providing of services and commodities incidental thereto;

“(C) Fairs held under the authority of the state or a political subdivision, or independent fairs, or the providing of services and commodities incidental thereto;

“(D) The operation of publicly owned places of entertainment, recreation, or education, by a public officer, concessionaire, exhibitor, or employees of all or any of them, or any other person, or the providing of services and commodities incidental thereto.”

The Court finds no reference being made to the repeal of previous section after adoption set forth in Supplement.

However, in memorandum submitted by Counsel for complaining witness, the affidavits will be taken, as filed in accordance with statute as amended by House Bill 1031, effective July 17, 1959.

The eases being consolidated upon the issues raised by the Motion and Memorandum of the defendants and the Memorandum contra of Motion to Dismiss by attorneys representing the complaining witness.

The motion of the defendants raises two points of law.

1. The sufficiency of the allegations in the affidavit,

2. The constitutionality of enactment.

Upon the sufficiency, the Court is of the opinion that the two essential allegations are not alleged;

1. That the work was not of necessity or charity;

. 2. That the defendant individuals did not conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and abstain thereon from doing the things prohibited on Sunday.

The supplemental sections of §3773.24 A, B, C & B, R. C., are defen[393]*393sive matters, however, in the conclusion of the Court, taking the Motion as a Demurrer upon the constitutionality of the act;-upon consideration thereof, the demurrer and considering all the acts in relation to the Sabbath desecration, the Court finds the Demurrer well taken and that §3773.34 R. C., is unconstitutional and void and by reason thereof, the judgment of the Court is that the defendants all be discharged and affidavits dismissed; and it is further adjudged that the complaining witness pay the costs of prosecution.

The question before the Court is not whether Sunday closing laws are good or bad, but rather in what way §3773.34 R. C., violates any of the rights and privileges guaranteed to the people of this State by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The Court is of the opinion that said statute considered is:

1. arbitrary and capricious and unreasonable

2. unreasonable classifications

3. grant special privileges to few

4. vague

5. contrary to constitutional provisions and Bill of Rights.

The reasons for the judgment of this Court in determining the issues joined is based upon the fundamental rights of sovereignty of the people; and that the legislative enactment and the constitutional provisions are clearly incompatible.

Realizing that only when changing conditions make it necessary the constitution is amended; but the statutory law can be repealed and a law repugnant to the welfare of the people and in violation of the constitutional provisions is void and of no effect.

The County Court system is a new creation in the judiciary of our State and a Court of first resort to the people: the Court has the duty and the obligations to protect the citizens in their rights and privileges under the constitution of the State of Ohio and the Bill of Rights,

Under our Constitution the church and the state are separated; under Mohammed, civil law and.religious law are not separated'and the interpretation different. Therefore, to get the correct interpretation of the law in Ohio in its relation to Sabbath desecration it is necessary to trace the stages of the Sabbath desecration laws or blue laws originating in early days, and detecting the influence of religious leaders and others in our laws.

The Ohio Courts have not as yet determined the matter of the constitutionality of §3773.24 R. C., as amended by 128 House Bill 1031 effective 7/17/59. It was the intent of religious leaders to have the people keep the Sabbath sacred and that is commendable; religion is necessary to the peace and welfare of our country, and in the early decisions in Ohio, Judge Thurman, 2 Oh St 387, Bloom v. Richards, said, “Christianity is a part of the common law of England, but not a part of the law of this State; nor has a government ever been vested with authority to enforce any.

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Bluebook (online)
84 Ohio Law. Abs. 390, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-woodville-appliance-inc-ohcirctlucas-1959.