The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-11-07
Vic. and Tennie.

A i
The Wickedest Women in New York--Dis,
turbance in y Nasty Nest--Free Lovers
and Libelers in Ludlow Jail--The Har.
lots Organ Suppressed. fs ~; jz.,i
NEW York. November 2.-The wo-
man Woodruff was arrested this
morning on a warrant sued out by l..
G. Challis, charging gross libel. War
rants are also issued against this per-
son and her partner in business on
complaint of other parties on a like
charge. Sft
Mesdames Woodruff and Clafiin
were also arrested by the United
States Marshal, on the charge of send
ing obscene publications through the
mails, while they were in a carriage
preparing for flight, with copies of
their publications in the venicle " ith
| them. -itft ~ - - 49, -
On being brought before the Uni
| ted States Commissioner, the Assis-
tant District Attorney charged tnat
they were guilty of libelling all over
the country. The commissioner deci-
ded to admit the accused to bail in
$1,000 each, but no bail was furnished
and they were sent to Ludlow street
Jail.
A good deal of talk was occasioned
about town this evening over the ar
rest of Woodruff and Clafiin. Pro-
ceedings against them were first taken
by Mr.. l.. G. Challis. a we'll known
banker, who last night applied for
warrants for their arrest for gross,
scandalous, and malicious article on
him. These warrants were accord
ingly issued, but before they could be
executed some one acting in behalf of
another libeled party, as it is said,
and importing the aid of Comstoek,
the famous enemy to obscene litera-
ture, had warrants issued against the
Mesdames by United States Commis-
sioner Osborn. ~
The affidavits in the case were made
by Albert Anderson, Post-office clerk,
a Mr.. Wooley, of Brooklyn, and L.
w. Rees, clerk in the Independent
newspaper Office, who swear to the
sending of the offensive publications
through the mail by the accused. The
witnesses in the case, William Moody,
a negro, and G. d. Miles, who mailed
the papers, were, sent to the House of
Detention.
That two women were taken to the
Commissioners Office in carriage
and thence to the Jail until Monday
morning, when a hearing will come
off. They manifested their usual bold
ness and descanted on their way to
prison on the 'soutrage" of their arrest
and confinement over Sunday. They
insisted upon suitable apartments at
Ludlow street Jail. tat5
This afternoon upon warrant is
sued by Mayor Hall. seizure was
made of the establishment of Wood
hull 81 Claflin, together with books,
furniture, and so much of the edition
of the publication as was found. The
Indignation of the community gener-
ally has been aroused at the brazen-
ness and audacity shown by the pub
lication complained of, and the prose-
cutting parties purpose of pursuing the
case vigorously. l2i3e F.'e i-
Mr.. Challis has also caused the ar
rest of the so-called "Colonel Blood,n
who is charged with being an accom-
plice. Also Denyse, the stereotyper,
and Smith. the printer of the scandal
izing paper. The statutory penalty
for sending obscene literature through
the mails is an imprisonment of one
year and five hundred dollars fine.
The ETpress says: s'The arrest of
the feminine firm of Woodruff & Claf-
lin for circulating obscene literature
was to be expected, for nothing more
obscene in the way of attrocious char
ges ever obtained currency in any
community than the attacks of these
women upon distinguished and hon.
ored clegyman." The scandalous and
libelous article of the twain consists
of a gross attack upon Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher and Theo dore Tilton.