New-York tribune., 1876-07-14
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
OBSTACLES TO SURPRISING VICE.


ANTHONY COMsTOCK's WORK MPEDED BY DELAYS
~ THE DIsTnCT-ATTORNEY's OFFICE.
The New-lOrk Society for the Suppression
OF Vice. through the efforts OF its Secretary Anthony
Comstoc. Friday procured indictments by the Grand
Jury OF persons charged with selling and exhibiting
books and pictures An the accused persons were
arrested during the month Of June by Mr. Comstook
They are r " Mihau of No Is Deyst Otto Schmidt of
No 263 Broone-st Stephen scha Of No 10 College
place, John SchOenhOlz OF No 81 South fffth-aye',
Joseph Sehlor, OF No. 2Olls West Twenty-folrthst,
william Boylson OF No. 93 BOwery, G. Firch-
nand. l.. Dreiyfus, Felix Dreiyfus, II. j. schott,
and Jules Frechet, venders at the French
Transatlantic Steamship Company's pier No
81 North River In each case, accompanying the
arrest there seizure of property which VIII furnish
complete cyidcuee of guilt the persons brought to
trial by the DstrictAttorney Officers Of tho Society
complain that there has been the greatest delay on the
part Of the DlsctAorney in bringing to tral persons
against whom similar indictments have been found.
fhcy affirm that Grand ures have always been ready to
ndct persons arrested for violating the law against the
sale and exhibition OF obscene literature and pictures; ana
that with tho exception OF Woodruff Clafn. who were
discharged through defects in law rather than failure to
prove gu.t trials of persons indicted by the So
ciety have always resulted In conviction. The officers
point to the fact shown by their records that the
persons brought 10 trial on such indictments have Deen
chiefly those i'll poor circumstances, while offenders
with wealth political influence have been left undis
offender who, after being indicted, visited Mr. Comst0ck
iu company with lawyer aud offered him large sum OF
money IL lie would destroy all evidences OF his guilt
which Mr. Comstock had. After calling two witnesses
who had been secreted within hearing MI
Comstock elected the from the house and
then prepared affidavit, stating the
facts, which he presented TO the District
Attorney as additional evidence No notice of the
has been taken however beyond the filing Of the papers
The officers of the Society say that to their urgent a
peas the DistrctAtOrney's office the answer is re-
turne that the trial of the must be postponed for
want of lime. But they ask, why is ii that abundant
time allotted for the trial OF petty thets and eases of
cruelty animals, while the wetches who exert most
bsneful influence the minds OF youth in all parts OF
the country are allowed to go unpunishedi
The following is a list Of persons who have indictments
sti pending against them, several of whom were ar
tested more than two years ago, and believed to
be engaged secretly in their neiarious calling:
solomon w. Rice Peter r. Well
John Msrker Lewis T. Meyer.
Charles Couroy, Morns Bass.
tniSries barrow oswald BoolL
MSgIIis SMSsyIs seeRsI SsIrS"' aiias Hicks
Gsofgo ": seldom seldom iIssPn Tss6 F hSI.f %cbffmo
j Wesley Nichol. Robert f. Nc cDernot+
James Mead William Hcasan.
solomon b. solomon, John a. Collins;
ia BenJaHin 1eIIS5h mIyahS Sd"iSb 8reiInaaer
G. H. NJ. Jacobson Henry >uestu,r
II. II. BehreEs
IN addition to the state courts the Society has
arrested great number of persons Tor sending obscene
publications through the mails and these being within
the jurisdiction of the United States courts have been
promptly tried and convicted. This fact Is held up by
officers of the Society additional reason why there
should be less delay in the state cOurts.s
The aggressive work the Society has been done thus
far by Mr. Comstock, whose personal efforts the So
ciey in fact owes existence. While employed as
dry goods clerk in this city. 1--WE years ago, his
attention was called to The numbers of obscene books
and pictures circulating young men ana boys ana
the evil effects which ne noticed aroused hm To acton
lie made !n independent attempt 10 arrest person
whom he knew to be engaged IN the sale OF Immoral
books but was betrayed by policeman whom ne calico
to assist him. On March ,, 1872, h. visited several
houses In Ann aud NaSsau-sts, aCcOnplnlel ny IElB
scyen Offenders all OF whom were tired and con
yicted. From that time lie has continued ms
work untI he has become the terror 0t thai
class oT eviLdoeTS. Morris h. Jcsup. WIN. l.
dodge IT., J. PierpOut Morgan, and others gave
him hearty approval and caused hm tc be supported III
lie present Society formed IN 1873 Daring his Ia,
bOis Mr. Om,tOck has caIuled and destroyed ScNeraI
hundred thousand dollars worth OF books ana jhe mn
terias i,r their Manufacture. He stu preserves siii
cent documentary evidence convict the persons whom
ne Las had indicted. IL they can be brought - TRIAL
TOMPKINS SQUARE AGAIN DISCUSSED.
THE MAYOR DETERMINED 10 INVESTIGATE TIf
MATrER-FRUITLEsS DEBATE OF the ALDERMEN.
At meeting OF the Board of Aldermen
Yesterday communicate rs from the 9th Regiment and
from TIE Separate Troop OF Cavalry, asking Tor armoeS