The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-23
THE COMsTOCK ACT.


ARTICLES sLIzED AS IMMORAL IMPoRrATIoSs
SAID TO HAVE BEEN EEsoi D-wHAr cUs-
TOM HOUSE OFFICERS AND OTHERS sAY
ABOUT The CHARGE.
What promises to be one Of The most important In.
vestigations under. the new rfg,me at the Custom
House will be inauguratcd, sod although at pres
ont directly removed from the power OF the new Col
iector OF the PORT stl originating in his ursdc.
ton, 1t calls Tor prompt action Reference Is made 10
the alleged seizure OF contraband goods by revenue
officers uuder called Comsiock act OF March ..
1873. whereby importatlons made OF goods Of
immoral character anu tending 10 serve vicious par.
poses These articles sent over IRON France and
Germany tn great quantities; OF course. As iner entry
into ports was contrary TO Law. they were Snug.
ged. aud the Comstock act OF the above mentioned
date conhscatcd VOL tho goods in which they
might bo concealed, but the latter part OF
law has since been abandoned by The Secretary
OF tho Treasury. and now only the goods Condemned
are seized and held by the government nntii theis
destruction.
A member OF the Society Tor the Prevention Of Vice
stated to HERALD reporter yesterday that tho at,en-
tion society had been drawn to the fact that,
although large seizures OF immoral druggists goods
had been made within the past two three years. the
TACT was patent that the same articles were for sale
only among the lower class OF dealers the
and west sides OF the town. but under certain precau
tons by the most respec able hrms broadway. IL
inquiry prompted by desire 10 stop this
tIafc WHICH brought 10 light probable Ring In ON
cla circles acting In cootraventon Of law aud proba
bly, proniina from the sale Of articles which the
orbids. IL publicly stated that after the goods
had zsd by the Custom House officers and Dc.
lvored 10 United States Marshal TO be destroyed
they wero n2t 80 disposed Of but sold for the bsnsnt
OF those having cDars. OF lnom. Az about 500 900
titlest nell. haAh cAn
charge which directly Implicated the Unitsd states
Marshal was considered worthy o, Investigation
THE ACT
Tho statutes under which the seizures made
were looked up, and generally me provisions were
the United STAGES IRON any foreign country any oh
scenc1ook, pamphlet, paper. writing, advertise meup-
crcalar print picture, drawing or other REPRESENTS
uon, nsufe or image on, or OF paper or other ma.
tcria or any cast, INSTRUMENT or other article VI
immoral nature, or any similar drug or meiicine.p
Asst was Understood thai Captain Bracket. chief
OF rne special service a tue Custom House, was Ia
mliar with the Importation aud secure OF those
tranand articles. The writer waited upon him Tor
formation. lie said :"'Ihe facts you have are IN the
man We have seized wthin tue last two or
three years very large quantity OF .russsts goods
intendcd TO be smugged, aud mostly TO be used lof
immoral purposes; bul .hink the snouIt stated by
your Informant Is lar in cxccss OF thcir value. do
hot suppose altogether they would amount 10 over
$4,000 Iu regard 10 .ne'r disposition BY the
United states Marshal, Mr.. Lewis Pawn. knew
nothing. l have u receipt tor their delivery, and
there my sS.y snaa course they should hay.
WRIT DESTRUCTION.
Mr.. Phelps, OF tho Ninth DIVISION Of the Custom
House, was absent from MIS- Office, but his deputy
maiuiy couhrmed Captain B.ackstrs account. rms
gentleman further stated that the goods aitor seizure
are advertised ~ government expense and are thsn
turned over 10 the Uailsa STATES sarshal by decree
OF the District Court, which 10 termed writ Of de.
"Whas about the fancy mesrschaums seized By
revenue officers and aiterward exhibited IN Washing
ton 7" asked the reporter.
"Wei" sa,d The deputy with a smile, al. Is losg
story and thoro are Two aides 10 IT, In, importer
bought q lew tine pipes IN Vonna. but the designs
MOI nj a oh TN fAcf nAY
wore ssixed under ,he Comstock act ~ obscene.
Inere was question raised me goods we're sens
70 washington, where they we're examined and, D.
levs, afterward released. I"
WHO made the OF the ssizurssS"
~ cannot positively say, but hear Deputy Sur
| vsySr KIRK and Inspector Jackson"
DRUGGIsT's OPINION
The writer visited oil the m0st prom inent drug.
giss broadway during the Ailernoon aud asked
opinion OF the Illicit trade Tho gentleman stated
| Tor oUvoas rcasons he did not wish hrs name puO-
hshcd, but he was in position to know how FAR
Reaching und dangerous the pern,cous Traffic these
uarm done by Madame Kss.si." ne sad, ..sav ID NOT
| accomplish ono nall Of Tue rom brought about BY
those French articles and Instruments. As 10 the
seizure, oil that am cortAa. for taxed the
officers engas Ia the work myself; am lar
have men come into my store Offering iur sale In
original packages those very articiss and In many
cases nall the price at which | coaii import them
thus hull disposed 10 believe The story that there
Is ring somewhere, VINO can gct hold OF these goods,
and dispose Of Them al low pricss On lhe east and
sides vi the city the articles opsuly sod and
why me Coms,oSk people Do arrest .hs vsnasrs
| nm ut a loss 10 understand. You see the druxgiss
who deals such things renders himself liable
penalties. one Tor smuggling, aud aposher tor selling
| articles oil al immoral nature"
| UNITED STATES MARSHAL
| The once Of Mr. Lewis rayn, United States Mar.
shai oil this district, 10 No. new Post once
building Tnitner the reporter repaired ouiy to nnd
thai Mr. Payn Of the CITY His deputy, Mr..
| Prrryns, was IN, however, aud In Augwer L.
qurIes lie emphaiicaily denied any the gooda
| tdrned over 20 that ONCE been resold.
| "aave they been dcstroysdY" the reporter asked
| "Yes.n
ain ,.ros.oc. of xitnesses aecordtng IN ,h. ...s
20 WIS the next question.
| Yes. In presence Oi witucssea"
| "Have you any objection In mentioning their
namesY"
.'Yesn was tie reluctant response. al would rather
you would see Mr.. Payn for further PARTICULAR but
ueny that any oil Tho goods turasd this odao
| have been resold'