An Act for the More Effectual Suppression of Drinking Houses and Tippling Shops, § 10, 1853 R.I. Pub. Laws 238, 238-9 (Sayles, Miller & Simons 1853).

    "SEC. 10. It shall be the duty of any mayor, alderman, city marshal, city or town sergeant, constable or police officer, of any city or town, if he shall have information that any ale, wine, rum, or other strong or malt liquors, or any mixed liquors as aforesaid, are kept for sale or sold in any tent, shanty, hut or place of any kind for selling refreshments in any public place, on or near the ground of any cattle show, agricultural exhibition, military muster or public occasion of any kind, to search such suspected place, and if such officer shall find upon the premises any ale, wine, rum, or other strong or malt liquors, or any mixed liquors as aforesaid, he shall seize them and apprehend the keeper or keepers of such place, and take them with the liquors and the vessels containing them, so found and seized, forthwith or as soon as may be convenient, before some justice of the peace, or court exercising the jurisdiction of at justice of the peace, of the town where found, and thereupon such officer shall make a written complaint under oath, and subscribed by him, to such justice or court, that ale, wine, rum, or other strong or malt liquors, or mixed liquors, a part of which is ale, wine, rum, or other strong or malt liquors, was found in the possession of such keeper or keepers, in a tent, shanty, hut, or place for selling refreshments, and upon proof that said liquors are either ale, wine, rum, or other strong or malt liquors, or mixed liquors as aforesaid, that they were found in the possession of the accused, in a tent, shanty or other place as aforesaid, for sale, he or they shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail of the same county for twenty days, and the liquor and vessels so seized shall be dealt with, by order of such justice or court, as provided in the ninth section of this act. But from the sentence and order of said justice or court as aforesaid, the defendant may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas next to be holden in the same county after ten days; in the same manner, and upon the same terms and conditions and with the like effect, as prescribed in section 6th of this act. And in case of such appeal, if the final decision shall be against the appellant, sentence as aforesaid shall be passed upon him by the appellate court, and the liquor and vessels seized as aforesaid shall be dealt with as aforesaid."

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Acts & Resolves of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Passed January, A. D., 1853, Being the Adjournment of the October Session; with the Roll of Members, and the Reports Ordered to Be Published (Providence, RI: Sayles, Miller & Simons, 1853), 238-9. An Act for the More Effectual Suppression of Drinking Houses and Tippling Shops, §10. Passed at the January Session, 1853.