New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-16
4 PUBLISHING ESTABLISHMENT BRO
KEN Up
SEIZURE OF IMPROPER BOOKS.

populetior were stNued by the announcement. that
weekly paper Of the most obscene character had been
published fG months in this city, and had been eur.
rertously Gil cua'ed through the mail to subscribers
in other towns, and distributed extensively among the
residents and ,o>urners in this city The ares. Of
the proprietor Of the estabiishment-a man named
George Akarnn-was announced simultaneously with
the fact Of the existence of the paper The farcc,
depoue ment Of the criminal proceeding, wa, reported
in THE TsEBUsE o. Monda'-it being the imposition
of fine az ainst Akarman Of 80, by Mr. Police Jus.
tee Osborn the senior Justice of the Court Of Special
Sessions.
The facts connected with Akeuren's career are
briefly these: Over hire months since the publication
Of the sheet in question commenced unserthe name
of james Ramerio" TIE sheet was not publicly
sold, and was only to be ebtated by addressing let
ter, with the money, to the above name, Box No.
4,o46 General Post Office. The difficulty of obtaining
the paper increased the demand for it: and though
its circulation limited it yet cold readily through
the newsboys for large prices.
Two or three months stree, the existence Of the
sheet became frs. known to the District Attorney,
A. Oakley Hail. esq and lie took steps at once TO dis
cover the place whence it emsnated and the propre-
tor. He deputed Officer Walsh of the Metropolitan
Police, who is detailed at the Court of Sessions, 70
execute TINS detective Outy.
Mr.. Walsh took position near the Post Office from
day to day, and though he discovered the fact
that from hundred to two hundred letters each day
we've taken from box No. 1916, yet they always
taken when be was absent. This continuing for
weeks he bee ,me satisfied that the party engaged in
this contraband trade had uborned some of the Post
Office Clerks, and that they gave information to the
offender whenever any person was apparently on the
,x.ada hia ol,S.np NJ Val ,l
spoke to Postmaster Fowler in relation to the subject
Mr.. Fowler expressed his readiness to do
any thing he could to aid in the detection
of the offending party and he at once
placed other clerks at the delivery where the person
was accustomed to call for his letters. Mr. Welsh,
thinking be had become known, decided to put Officer
Davis of the Court of Sessions on the alert The plan
succeeded, and George Akarman arrested aud
conveyed before Justice Welsh. Thirty.two letters
were found on his person. the burden Of the days
respondence having been received in the early part Of
the day. before Mr.. Davis arrived at the Post Office.
Against Akarmans indignant protest the letters were
opened. They contained money, postage stamps, or
ders for The Venus Miscellany, contributions to its
columns and orders for obscene books. Justice Welsh
at orce committed Akarman to the Tombs.
But il seems that he was not without friends. Mr..
Rose of the firm of Ross & rOusey. news agents be-
came Akarmans bail in the Of 900, and he was
released from custody.
On Saturday, Akarman appeared before Justice o.
born, sitting in special session. He pleaded guilty,
and as the penalty of bis oense, was fined $50 only
But Mr. Walsh and Mr.. Davis were not satisfied
with this lenient treatment of whom they were
folly persuaded was deeper in infamy than had even
been proven and they continued their effo,ts to find
Akarmm's place of business. The fact that his paper
continued TO be regularly issued notwithstanding the
arrests only confirm ed them in their conclusion that
he intended to continue its publication, unless stopped
by summary proceedings.
Itva not however until Saturday, that they dis
covered whence the paper issued, and the person
who did the com position and press work. Learning
that the 4lst number to be printed yesterday
morning, Mr. Walsh procured search warrant from
Judge RUSSELL and proceeded to the printing establish
m.nt of John G. Wells, Nos. 90 and Il Frankfort
street taking with him Officers Brd.al, Davis, VIII
lets, Riley and Houston, and without any ceremony
entered the press room. They found the pressman
and two boys engaged in striking off the regular
edition. about 800 copies being already printed The
pressman ard the two boys, james w. Sherow and
James Wright, were taken into custody and conveyed
before Judge Russell. They there stated that they
were employed in Weiss establishment and had no
interest whatever in the publication. Their afidavits
were taken after which they were discharged their
own recognzances to appear as witnesses. Others of
the Officers seized the form Of the paper and the edi
ton printed and brought them TO the DstrictAttor.
reys Office, where they were deposited, to be used
as evidence when necessary.
While the proceedings were going on before Judge
Russell some of the officers proceeded to the building
No II Frankfort street. and ascend to the fifth hoor,
sought admittarce at the door. The door closed
ano on it was placard bearing the announcement.
"Goue to the Country will be back on Saturday,
" 18th" The door was at once forced, and within
good-sized apartment were found several thousand
specimens of yellow. covered literature. second and
larger room was forced, and here was found more of
the came kind Of literature, some of which was bound
ard the rest folded and ready for the binder
A more strct search was instituted, and i!
resulted in the discovery OF several dozens
of volumes of the most obscene and filthy stuff that
ever disgraced lang uage with illustrations to match.
A large copper plate of the same description, which
had evidently been but recently completed, was also
found. BY announcements made in the columns OF the
paper it appears that copy of the engraving struck
from this plate was to be given to each subscriber to
tie paper. large quantity Of stereotype plates were
also found.
From tie fact that the morning papers were IN one
of the rooms it is believed that Akarman discovered
that proceedings about to be taken in the matter
and at decamped. Articles of female headdress
were found on one of the tables, belonging to women
who were employed in coloring the engravngs.
The editorial table presented some correspondence
unusual in the profession Most Of the letters were as
indecent possible, and several were from girls as
was evident from the style and chirography Most oil
them, however, were business letters.