Knowles v. State
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Connecticut
WRIT of error. This was an information in the county court against the plaintiff in error, by the attorney for the state, ior a certain exhibition in the city of New-Haven.
Read the full summary
WRIT of error. This was an information in the county court against the plaintiff in error, by the attorney for the state, ior a certain exhibition in the city of New-Haven. The supposed offence was charged as follows: That said John 1 Knowles did at New-Haven, on or about the 8th day of December, 1807, at the corner of Aim-Street and College-Street, near the dwelling-house of Daniel Candes, in 1 o said New-ffaven, unlawfully exhibit and hang up at the r . . ... r '.. . , corner of said streets, m the view of many of the good people of this state, an indecent and unseemly picture r 1 ’ _ _ - 1…
1Opinion of the Court
By the Court,
unanimously. The statute on winch this information is grounded, prohibits all persons from exhibiting “ on any public stage or place whatsoever, any games, tricks, plays, shows, tumbling, rope-dancing, puppet-shows, or feats of uncommon dexterity or agility of body,” under a penalty. The word shows, which alone can apply to this case, has no technical meaning, known in law; and it cannot be extended by construction, to render criminal the mere exhibition of a work of art, a natural curiosity, or the collections of a museum.
*108Every public show and exhibition, which outrages…
2Cited by16 opinions
- State v. SulSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1958
- United States v. BennettU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York · 1879
- State v. NeaseOregon Supreme Court · 1905
- Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. PaxtonSupreme Court of the United States · 2025
- State v. DanforthSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1819
11 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.