The evening times., 1896-01-16

The copies of those two works of art known
as 1.-The Fates' and "The Sirens" which
nave been the subject Of police discussion
since yesterday because Policeman Brennan
reported that they were conspicuously ex-
hlDited In the show window OF Mr. John
L. Parker, the statioper on Seventh street,
are still In that show window, and Mr.
Parker declares that despite the objections
OF Captain of Police Austin and Patrolman
Brennan they are there to stay.
! Above them. just to rub it in a little on
| the police. MIR. Parker has suspended n card
| on which is written: "These are the pict-
| ures censured by Officer Brennan
I Capt. Austin said this morning that he
had not Investigated the pictures as yet;
mad not even seen them. bat III they were as
reported they would certainly have to be
taken from the window.
A SIMILAR CASE.
He was asked If he remembered the po-
lice controversy with VeerhOff over copies
of the same paintings some time ago and
he replied that he did; still. he could not say
that he remembered what tlH pictures were
| like. as the officer on that beat had reported
on them and ordered them out.
Brennan applied to Warrant Clerk WASH
burn yesterday for warrant for Parker,
when he received the alleged complaint
from Passer-by, but that gentleman very
promptly refused 10 grant any. He told the
officer to consult with Capt. Austin, and
allow him TO get an idea as to the extent
OF their indecency.
"Mr. Parker said they were holy pict-
ures," said the policeman, but this was not
sufficient to identify them, and he had to
go away without his warrant.
The law. under which prosecutions are
brought for exhibitions of indecent pic
Statutes OF the United States. 1t reads:
Every person who, within the District
OF Columbia, sells or lends, or gives away,
or in any manner exhibits. or offers to sell,
or to lend or to give away, or In any manner
exhibit, or has in his possession, for
any such purpose, any obscene
picture shall be imprisoned at hard
labor, in the penitentiary, for not less than
six months nor more thanfive years. for each
offense, or fined not less than 500 nor
more than $1,000, with costs or the court"
DISCRETION OF POLICE.
There is no police regulation on the SUBJ
Ject but the matter is left to the discre-
ton OF the captain OF police. He is sup
posed to look out for billposters of an
obscene or indecent character. and has
extended his censorship to higher class
works OF art
There has been laid down, either by him
Ut souit vi Tue touiiuiSsiODtTS- dU dfDitrdEs
rule that all figures not draped from the
bust to the knee are indecent. whether they
be stuck on board fence with a whitewash
brush or represent the highest conceptions
OF the old masters.
II is This rule that Capt. Austin and
Policeman Brennan are making wild
effort to follow out, and which Mr.. Parker
does not propose TO be made a victim Of
Not only in the window referred to have
those two pictures been exhibited, but in
every art store in the city copies of it eau
be seen daily.
Capt. Austin said this afternoon he In
tended to make personal investigation
of the matter, and If the pictures seemed
to him to be indecent they would have to
go. He was guided in his actions by the
Commissioners, he said, and did not pre-
tend to do anything but his duty. The OBJ
ject of the ruling was to keep the pictures
where people were not compelled to look
at them.
II Mr.. Parker wanted to exhibit high
class works OF art representing nude female
forms he would be compelled to do it in
side his store. Those people who wanted
TO see them could do SO, but they must not
be thrust upon the public gaze.