LIQUOR LAW REPORTEDLY VIOLATED IN MANOR

The town of Manor was just a little over one year old when, on May 31, 1873 the Legislature of the State of Texas passed a law making it unlawful to "sell, barter, give away, or in any other manner dispose of any alcoholic, spirituous or other intoxicating liquors of any kind" within three miles of seventeen different areas of the state, mostly known by the educational institutions located in those areas. Parsons' Female Seminary in Manor was the first name on the list. 

The three mile limit in the law meant that no liquor could be sold or distributed anywhere in the newly-formed town of Manor. The farthermost limit of the town was about two thirds of a mile away from Parsons' Female Seminary. 

Less than a year later, on March 5, 1874, the Weekly Democratic Statesman, a newspaper published in Austin, carried on its front page an article indicating that Manor area residents were violating the liquor law. 

FRONT PAGE
WEEKLY DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN
MARCH 5, 1874

HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLE

There was an exception to the liquor law; some liquors could be sold and distributed if they were being used "for sacramental purposes" (most likely referring to wine used in church services) or "medicinal purposes", in which case they had to be prescribed or recommended by a physician who was well-known in the area. 

Also of note was the fact that the law went into effect  without  the  Governors  objection  nor his signature of approval, perhaps indicating he felt that to do otherwise could be harmful to his future political career. It really didn't matter because Governor Edmund J. Davis was defeated for reelection in December, 1873 as well as in all his future political endeavors.