The New York herald., 1878-01-18
DEGRADING THE MAILS.
LOVER FOR CIRCULATING OBSCENE BOOKS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

LOVER FOR CIRCULATING OBSCENE BOOKS.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
BosroS, Jan. IT, ls.s
The long haired reformers OF this city, and. In fact,
OF the United States, have been anurry OF excite
ment tor tho past two months account OF the ar
rest and arraianmcnt OF f. H. Haywood OF Princeton,
Mass, on a charge OF scnding obscene matter
through tho United states mails. Mr. Haywood and
his wife head aud front the free love move-
ment In New England, and aided by such choice
spirits as Moses Hull and his affinity Matte Sawyer,
have shocked the sensbiiities OF Boston primncss
and afforded a good deal OF amusement TO the
prurient youths OF the city, IN their ocmi-anpu
conventions. Mr.. Comstock has had his argus
optics directed this OF immoral aud Indecent
agilators for some time, hut. as his province only
covered the circulation printed in the mails,
he has been unable to lind just cause for making
arrest until he finally secured two books which had
been sent TO him under the assumed lame OF "E.
Edgcwoll, Squan village, N. j." This was in August,
1871 Tnen ho game TO Boston ana watched for
Haywood. on the I'd day OF November following Mr..
Comstock visited Nassau Hail. in this city, wncre
a convention OF FREQ lovers was IN session, aud
watched his opportunity to secure his VIII c
the closing session was being held that evening Mr..
Haywood had occasion to step INTO the entry. and
there Comstook mado the arrost Haywood de-
read, but this refused, we'll the the
arrestng oicor, the cause Of the arrest any inlor
nation whatever. Haywood then asked permission
TO step IN ani speak TO his wile ont THIS was also do
MED nim, and he was marched oil To Charles street
Jan, where he was securely locked up.
UP FOR EXAMINATION.
Next morning he was arralgned before United States
Commissioner Hallet complaint charging him
with sending certain obscene aud indecent phet
through the mails, and held under sl 500 bail Tor
u hearing the following tuesday. On that day Hey
wood appeared IN the United states Court ana large
gathering OF Tree lovers aud that class OF social
formers VINO make 1t tie object OF their lives upset
all the established customs of society,
riagc MDor honesty and purity, was in attendance.
Mr. Comstock introduced David H. Gregory OF Prince.
ton, n. j., who corroborated Mr. Coinslock's state
inent in regard TO the sending OF money for the
books sent 10 him under the assumed maine The de-
tence entered by Haywood through his counsel
that he had right 10 send those books, they
not obscene within the meaning Of tho Law.
INDICTED.
Mr.. Haywood was bound over for a further hearing
ana IN December Che Grand Jury found true bill
against HIM on the evidence submitted The trial
set down Tor January 10, but was postponed until
day at the request OF MIR Comstock.
THE TRIAL.
The lrst witness to-day Authony Comstock, who
testified precisely as lac did at the preliminary exam
nation The books were produced, but counsel Tor
the defence objected 10 tncr going 10 the jury The
Judge overrulca the objection and they submits
ted. When the cross-examinatiou opened for
the defence attempted TO inquire the lodge
OF the witness regarding obscene books, carried
10 such length that the Court put Il stop 10 Il US
| discreditabe TO The court Tho hook was IN s,and
tall by itseli, as the law alone 10 be taken TO
show its standing, and the Court recognized no OBJ
sccne book us standard OF obscenlty. Tho attempt
was 10 Introduce very low book representing tho
class that tho statute was maGo to prevent the crcuia
| ton so.
The witness stated that he officially notified by
the Post Oice Department that tho books Ia question
were passing through tho mails and were OF an OBJ.
scene character
Counsel endeavorod TO ask tho witness If
the Attorney General had decided tnat cer-
tam medical works were obscene in
| order to classify the books in question, but tho
Court informed the counsel that tho question need
not 10 answered, as tho Attorney Gonerai's opinon
was not needed In this court the was To rest
upon Itself.
ID. H. Gregory, Postmaster at Princeton, N. j., re.
hcrated his previous testimony, and tho for
| government was closed.
A NOTABLE DEFENCE.
Some eighteen Or twenty witnesses were called for
| the defence, ana Mossrs Elizur Wright, Sydney
| Morse, A. e. Giles and j. N. Bruce, NJ. d., sue.
| ccssively took tho witness stand, but notLin z
definite was ELECTED, the Court excluded the
! line OF interrogatory. Tho testimony offered
was held TO be nadnissible, as Dut The
sion OF an opinion oy the witnesses to whether
books were open 10 the objections alleged agains,
| them. That Was the very question the jury had To
| decide, and tho opinions other to
govern them ia thor deliberations Certain medi
cal books which counsel FOR defence had proposed "a
introduce were also excluded, on The general grou nd
that the questions as TO whether other books havin
more or less Resemblance to these opsence ol
not could not be passed upon by tho jury.
Tho case VIII be concluded TO. morrow