, 1872-11-03
Arrest Of These Notorious
Persons in New York,
Yesterday.
They Are Charged with Sending Obscene
Publications Through the Mails.


Cladln, on Broad street, and, inqui1ing for the
heads Of this firm Of female brokers, we're told
that they we're out. The brace OF officers said
they would wait, and seated themselves in the
ONCE Tor that purpose, In few minutes both
Victoria G. Woodruff and Tennie c. Cladiu en-
tered, and at the same instant Marshal Colfax
informed them it Was his duty to take them in
custody, On an affidavit charging an offence
against the new United States law relating to the
posting and sending through the Post Office
obscene publications. Mrs. Woodruff expressed
herself at once ready to accompany the officers,
but Miss Clafin said that she had some business
Of q very urgent nature to attend to, which
would only, however, occupy her the space
Of few moments. She was permitted to retire
into an ante-room, whare she remained for q
moment only, when she again reappeared, and, a
carriage being in readiness, the party entered,
missioner Osborn, in the United States Building.
News Of the arrest spread with the speed
of the wind, and it Was but
few moments after, when the bankers, brokers
clerks etc., engaged in the vicinity, left thebusy
scenes Of the stock market Ia and II their own offices
they congregated about the door in great force
to learn the latest particulars. In the meantime,
the Marsha1s with their prisoners, had arrived at
the Government Building in Chambers street,
the apartment Of the United States Circuit
Court. When the wel-knoWn forms Of Mes
DANES Woodruff and Clafin emerged from the
coach, the widest excitement at once sprung up,
and an eager throng followed upstairs. In the
carriages there Ta1e e anoGt 5op eoPes o. wgoa
Mrs. Woodruff looked grave and severe, never
smiling, and listening with apparent painful in-
terest to the proceedings. Miss Tennessee
claain wore an Indifferent .aiE. and her eyes
~ .Hekt.
dressed alike, as is their custom, n deep black
with purple bows, and the latest style Of hats.
They presented the same bold front that has
been their distinguishing characteristic. The
accused we're represented BY Mr. ]. .. Reymert.
pas pas2ed p'f feT The ft9e1s SSh Ra
on taking bis seat on the bench, Com
missioner Osborne, addressing Mr. Reymert,
asked if that gentleman vas ready to
proceed. Mr. Reymert begged His Honor to
prisoners. Commissioner osborne assented-
Du-lng the private conversation Tennessee
Cla1in was observed to smile and laugh several
times, while Mrs. Woodruff preserved through
out grave demeanor. Both defendants set in
the centre Of the oourtr99m neTt the railing.
wish postponement Of this case until some day
next week. The defendants have been CON-
pletely taken by surprise; the arrest was sud-
den, and they are not, consequently, prepared
Will LU6lI u16 u u64tlC1.
Commissioner Osborne. Then what do you
propose to do2
Mr. B. I propose to have the case adjourned
to Monday OF Tuesday Of next week, and IN the
meantime have the prisonera admitted to bail.
Commissioner Osborne. What do You propose
to do, District Attorney
District Attorney Davis. This is very seri-
ous charge. / am not anxious IN any way to
incommode the defence. 7 think 600 would
bea reasonably small amount OF bail to accept
F-x kIo;~
Mr. Reymert. Your Honor, the defendants
are not accused Of libel; they are not accused Of
assailing the character OF any party; they are
simply charged, according to the wording OF the
affidavit, which I hold in my hand, with sending
obscene literature through the Post Office. I
think 900 bail is too large an amount.
District Attorney Davis hare repeated his ap-
plication for S10, 900 bail and no less. He re-
iterated his comment on the gravity Of the
charge, the magnitude Of the reputation at stake,
and the reputation OF the distinguished gentle-
man assai1ed.
Mr.. B.. said there WAS no fear the accused
would run sway from the city to avoid the ends
Of Justice. They had newspaper Of extensive
t5 in this sci et they hid some real a es s
they lad was located in New York City. Con-
sequently, he thought they would have no rea-
son to run away to defeat Justice. They had no
Inducements Of anykind outaide Of New York City
and State, to attract them thither. They were
not common felons. The charge OF sending OBJ
scene literature through the Post Office, as in
dicated in the case was, in his (counseps) opin-
ion, nothing more and nothing less than an In
discretion.
District Attorney Davis. II the defendants are
60 wen-to-do as the counsel indicates; If they
have respectable and wealthy friends, real es-
tate, ETC., don't see what objection they can
have to giving 910, 900 bail.
After some further discussion, Commissioner
Osborne said he would take $4,000 bail, and
would adjourn further hearing Of the case un-
til Il o'clock on Monday morning.
There are also warrants sued out by Mr. Cha1-
lis, charging libel Mr. William F. Home ap-
pears as counsel for Mrs. Woodruff in the latter
cases. At 2 p. m. the two women we're taken 10
Ludlow Street Prison in q handsome carriage,
with Ive1ied driver, breathing forth indigna-
ton after being informed that even II they OBJ
tanned bail they would be Immediately rearrested
on similar charges.
This afternoon the police, upon q warrant is-
sued BY the Mayor, seized the establishment Of
Woodruff & ClaAin, together with the books,
furniture, and so much Of the edition containing
the lbeuous matter as has not yet been placed
in circulation. Newsdealezs are forbidden to
sell any copy Of the paper containing the scan-
dal, on the printing OF which the arrest is
based, but at certain news stands copies we're
obtainable this evening at 81 each.
ETo Tie Associated P5ess.l
New YoRK, Nov. "A great deal OF talk has
been occasioned about tom this evening, over
the arrest Of Woodruff d Clafin- Proceedings
we're frat taken against them by Mr. L. G.
ChalliB, we11-known broker, who last night ap-
piled for warrants for their arrest for gross,
scanda1ous, and malicious article on him. These
warrants we're accordingly issued, but before they
could be executed, some one acting on behalf Of
another GbeQed party, as it is said, and import
ing the aid Of Comstnck, the famous enemy to
obscene literature. had WARRANTS Issued against
the Mesdames by United States Commissioner
Osborn. The afddavits in the case we're made
BY Albert Anderson, Post Office clerk; Mr..
Wadley, Of Brooklyn, and 7. Y. Rees, a clerk in
the Independent newspaper Office, who swear to
the sending Of the offensive publications through
the mail the accused. The Witnesses in the case
Vim. Moody, negro, and G. D. Miles, who mailed
the papers, we're sent to the house Of detention-
The two we're taken to Commissioner Osbo1n's
Office in . carriage, and thence to jail until Mon
day evening, when a hearing will come OF. They
manifested their usual boldness, and descanted
on the way to prison on the "outrage" OF the
arrest and confinement over Sunday. They in
sisted On suitable apartments at the Ludlow
Street Jail.
This afternoon, upon a warrant issued by