The Cigarette Arrest on Third Street
A local tobacconist is hauled before the justice of the peace for selling a single package of cigarettes, sparking claims of a spiteful setup.
Sam Davidson, who runs a cigar and tobacco stand at the corner of Washington and South Third streets, was arrested yesterday afternoon on a warrant sworn out before Justice Caldwell by James Neally, the tailor, charging him with selling a package of cigarettes last Saturday night. Davidson was released on his own recognizance to appear next Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Davidson attributes his arrest to spite on the part of Neally, owing to the fact that Davidson was the principal witness against him in a case where he was arrested for receiving stolen goods.
“Davidson attributes his arrest to spite on the part of Neally.”
This arrest highlights the temperance-era moral panics that often targeted small businesses, masking personal vendettas as civic law enforcement. It mirrors modern debates over the regulation of tobacco and vaping products, which remain a flashpoint for local government oversight.
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