The New York herald., 1879-11-06
SUING THE LORD MAYOR.

THE WRATH OF ALDERMAN NoTTAGE-RISkS OF
rHoToaRApHING sEM-NUDE zULUs AND
OTHER PROFESSIONAL BEAUTIES
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Nov. 6, 1879.
The City Press (newspaper states that Alderman
Nottage and other representatives Of the London
Stereoscopic and Photographic Company have COM
menced proceedings against the Lord Mayor for
slander-the matter growing out of the
scene in the Lord Mayors court recently
wherein bookseller was summoned for
exposing photographs complained Of objectiona-
BILE. ron the Gath ult. Mr.. Phillpott. bookseller
and news agent at No. 54A Gracechurch street.
London. attended before the Lord Mayor upon
summons. at the instance of the City Police charg-
ing him with wilfully exposing causing to
be exposed in his shop window to the pub
lie view certain photographs Of Zulus in .
semi-nude condition. and alleged to be obscene
Mr.. Robertson, solicitor, who appeared for the
defendant, said that Mr.. Phillpott had given volun
tarily to the police copies of the Zulu photographs
in his possession. but he did not happen to have
any OF the photographs which the present charge
was founded. He had purchased his whole supply
from three eminent Arms Of photographers. in
Guiding the London Stereoscopic Company, Messrs.
Thorp and Watson and Messrs Coils. and the
photograph in respect OF which the summons was
oCereOscOplc
Company. He could not believe that such houses
would issue indecent photographs for publication.
Tho Lord Mayor. looking at the photograph said
he should be very sorry make profit by the sale Of
such things as these and he regretted to hear that
photogf aphers descended to do so. Mr..
Robertson said since the Zulu war
had commenced English people had been
anxious to sec with what foes they were
contending. and hence the production Of the photo
graphs. which only depicted the natiye Zulus in
their ordinary attire He admitted that If they
English people the photographs would be indecent.
but they were really not worse than the sketches
appearing weekly in such high class papers as
the Illustrated London Nescs the Graphic and
the Pictorial World. He handed up copy
Of the latter journal giving illustrations OF
Zulu life and character The Lord Mayor
ridiculed the idea that they bore any comparison
with the ndecency Of the photographs in question,
to which the solicitor replied that he consid-
cred them indecent OF course. if the subjects were
English people or whites they would be indecent:
but they Zulus. depicted in their native
costume. he did not think them indecent.
The Lord Mayor asked II they had not been
exhibited with the heading. "a Newly Married
Couple" dnd Mr.. Phillpott had to admit that
this 30. Finally. the Lord Mayor asked who
were the London Stereoscopic Company. Mr.. Rob
ertson said Mr. Alderman Nottage the sole pro-
prietor Of that company. and it not to be sup
posed that gentleman Of his position and standing
would sell such things IL they were indecent The
Lord Mayor said he should be very sorry indeed to
make money by the sale of such things, and his OBJ
servations applied equally to the publishers. al
though. as he was told. one OF them Alderman
of the city of London. The then adjourned.
and at the second hearing Alderman Nottage abused
the Lord Mayor in good round terms. The citizens
of London enthusiastically supported the Alderman.
and the Lord Mayor has been spending several un-
commonly maurais quarts d'Aelre during his last
week Of ofice.l