New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-04
WHAT is IMPROPER ART
THE CoMsroCK.K NoEDLER CASE HEARD.


CamstoclS- Knoedler case went on yesterday after
noon in the Tombs Police Court, before Justice
Kilbreth. Repeated postponements had caused
the public to lose track Of it, so the only persons
present. besides those directly interested, were the
reporters. Frederick r. Coudcrt, counsel for
the defendants Edmond L. KnOedler, of the firm
Of Knoedler 81 Co., and George Il. Pfeiffer,
salesman in their employ, who are charged by Mr.
Comstock with selling improper pictures, was IN
the courtroom along with his clients early In the
afternoon. looking bright as button An
thony Comstocb, Detective Joseph A, BrItton,
and w. c. Beecber, counsel for the
Society for the Suppression Of Vice, were also
prompt. Mr. ComstoclS carried big roll OF
alleged iniquity and when he sat down nursed 1t
on his knee.
It was getting toward 3 o'clock when Mr.
Coudert requested that the cases against Mr
Pfeiffer and Mr. Knoeder should be tried separate
w. and that against Mr. Pfeiffer first, but he took
the Judges suggestion that as the evidence would
be the same to do would be waste OF time
with a good grace, and the cases accordingly
went on together
THE DETECTIVE TELLS HIS TALE.
Mr.. Britton was the first witness called for the
prosecution He is rather good looking young
man, in spite of being afflicted with somewhat
watery eyes: and he is possessed Of an overwhelm-
ing sense of the extreme altitude of his mission
In answer to Mr. Beecher he said that he lived
at No. 1876 East Forty-seventh-st and was
special agent of the New-YorlI Society for the
Prevention of Vice. He told how, on September
10, he had gone to Knoedler ~ Co.'S art gallery,
at No. 10 Fifth-ave and had invested In eighteen
cabinet photographs for 81 so; three large-sized
photographs for So and three smaller engravings
for 81 80 apiece that Pfcifcr had been the sales
man, that he had asked for nude pictures and
IL f-n1 Dfatf hn
firm had any nude subjects taken
from life, he said they had not any
at present. as they only took them on
order and had to send to Europe for them.
Then Mr. BrItton fell INTO the hands of Mr.. Cou-
dert. MIR. Coudert mace him angry about hve
grew the happier Mr. COudert. One OF the
first things he asked the young man was whether
Beecher. whose objections from this stage forth
came in like shots from Gatng gun. made
futile attempt to have this question overruled but
Mr. Britton had to tell the court that he was paid
by the year or the month, and that he worked I'M
der the direction of Mr. Comstock II ! get any
information" he SAID. 81 act upon that In TINS
case went to the art gallery under the order OF
Mr. COmstOck."
DIDN'T KNOW Mr.. KNoEDLER's FIRST NAME.
MIR Coudert next devoted his attention to elicit
ing from the young detective exactly why he Went
But first he asked him why on earth he had dis
guised Mr.. Knoeder in the affidavit as John Doe,
while he had given Pfeiffer his right name. The
witness said he didn't know Mr.. KnOedlers first
name and had got Mr. Pfeffer's from the bill which
Pfeiffer gave him. Then he tried TO tell to Mr. Cou-
dors WY the he wt s he
object was to find out If they were violating the
law, and if they were to. bring them under the
notice of Mr.. COmstOck. went there TO see IL tney
had any obscene pictures Tor sale. A.,
!" But" SAID Mr.. COudert. .of course you got the
worst pictures you could get =
Didn't you, now Don't fence"
81 simply got those that were offered me for SALE"
"Is il not q fact that you bought such pictures
as would help to secure the conviction OF the de-
fendantsl"
MIR. Britton here began long harangue on his
object and mission, which was stopped by MI.
COuder,'s exclamation!
"Ohl excuse me-we have, sir two advocates
now! Don't be an advocate but let's nave one
II was sent there resumed Mr. Britton. desper-
atey, " to get the evidence. and got IT.!
Hold our, cred Major Beecher. " that's for the
"Oh. that's all right" said Mr.. Coudert. "Let
him go on! He tell us what the penalty is by aud
by! Let him go on"
GOOD DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN HIS LINE.
In answer to another of Mr.. COuderts questions
the witness said that he had quite good deal of
experience in going around 10 oking for obscene
pictures
Now, then" continued Mr. Coudert. clearing
his throat in preparation for broachng . new sub
jet, did you recognize the cuts publishsd In me
Erenin0 Telegram recently "a facsimlles OF the pct
uress which you got IN MesSrs. hnoedierS gai'er-
q. do not think I could identify any of the
pictures by the .caricatures which were published
Humpf That's very witty" said the lawyer,
"lut 1t isn't an answer. Do You mean to say that
you couldn't tell what these pictures were meant
toreepresent r
mo, Sir $500,
"Do you know whether they were intended to
do pnHe
We'll They were intended to represent women
without clothes, weren't they r
Did you see one that represented CabaneVs
Ibid you buy from Messrs. Knoedler any Of
those pictures that were IN T n. Telegram"
You are one of the custOdlanS OF pu0nc virtue.
Do you mean to say you did not examine the news
paper pictures TO see what they were .. NJ,
Another attempted exhortation OF MT
Britton was cut short by Mr. COudert calling on
him to answer yes no. This brought Britton to
pull-up with declaration that he regarded the
newspaper pictures as an outraged" 49,
IAN outrage on artistic rules or public decencyF
persisted his tOrmentor
Il wouldn't say they were decent or indecent;
because they looked nothing like the pictures
took from Knoedlers."
ing" the witness in half-dazed condition, looked
al Telegram that was put into his hand and. ~
answert direct invitation to point out when OF
the pictures were proper and which were improper,
said that out of the eleven on the sheet only Two
were draped, and they only partially"
coMsrocK ON THE STAND.
MI Comstocks evidence was next heard.
He testified how he had obtained
warrants for the arrests of the defendants
on the purchases made by his special
agent. In cross-examination MI. Coudert tried
hard to make Mr.. Comstock confess that there was
not anything more than a question of opinion at
issue and that there was not distinct line drawn
-l~an ~ NJ HA hnd laV
eral spirited and eoqnent tits on this same point
with Major Beecher, whose objections came thick
as autumnal leaves in Vallombrosa
Roland Rnoedler the head of the art firm, but
not defendant, was the last witness examined.
The principal points in his testimony were
that many of the pictures IN question had
been exhibited In the Salon.. In Paris,
but that some of them had probably been sent to
his firm as samples, and not ordered.