New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-22
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
DR. FUNK BEFORE THE GRAND jury.
CALLED To MAKE GOOD HIS CHARGES AGAINST
ME-. BACKUS-ANTHONY COMSToCKS

The Rev. DR.. !. X Funk was "A witness before
the Grand Jury for nearly two hours yesterday
DIR. Funk had made statements which were pun
lished In The newspapers 10 the effect mat D's-
trict~Attorney Backus had neglected his duty. ana
hat there were fragrant violations of the Rainos
law TO be found in almost any part of the city III
Funk even limited that unless Mr.. Backus was NOR"
energetic In securing the enforcement OF the law
the Governor might he asked 10 remove him. Dis
tr!ct-Attorney Backus replied saying that no
cases Of excise violation had been reported to
him that he had not presented TO the Grand jury.
lie said that II Dr.. Funk knew OF any such cases
he should report them 10 the proper authorities
In order TO give the minister an opportunity TO
substantiate his statements he summoned him be-
fore the Grand Jury yesterday. With DR.. Funk camc
the Rev. w. G. Brakeman. Of the Lcnox Road
Methodist Episcopal Church. In Fatbush. and the
Rev. Mr.. Williams. OF the FcEmore Methodist
Episcopal Church, also In Flatbush. T. De Qutn-
cey Tully the secretary OF the Law Enforcement
League. there. bus was not called, neither was
Anthony Comstock George b. Dram called. both
of whom dropped into the anteroom In the course
CT the morning
While Mr. Funk being examined Mr. COM
stock gathered the ministers about him and de-
lIvered himself about as follows az to h!s work
for moral purity in the community: II have gone
!nto the churches" he said, land asked FOR help;
but have been received colby. l have gone to
the pastors and told them Of my needs. They re-
piled that they were 100 busy 10 30 WIFI nv anu
that they hardly liked to put their names down
On paper II Is the Indifference Of Christian men
that has made my work hard. Then there are
the women. If It not for the women or the
Womans Christian Temperance Union. believe
my bill provide for decency in newspapers
and IN the exhibition of the female form on the
stage would be a law to-day. Before the con-
ycnton Of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union Julia Coleman got up and accused ne OF
disseminating immoral matter. when. In fact |
was using every means in my power 20 keep II out
Of our homes. If II had not been for the good OF
the cause | would have had that woman arrested
for Islander Then there Mrs Pritchard ana
Mrs Burt and together they made as dastardly
an attack upon eyer made upon mortal
nan And the Woman- Christian temperance
Union approved what they said. felt ! must DE
defended and | appealed to the religious press
asked them with their counsel 10 my
Office and inv. sgate my work for the last TWEEN
tv-fve years Everything would he thrown open
for their inspection. and If they found ANYTHING
wrong they might blaZon IL to the world HOW
many of them responded do you think? Not one.
| tell you ! have fight against fearful ODDS
when Christian men indifferent. The news,
paurrs take every opportunity that they can find
TO tell lies about me and my work 1t is very as
couragnE. .,, 49,,
The ministers said that they were AFRAID that
what Mr. Comstock said was true. but they thought
inc women were coming to their senses az last.
District Attorney Backus would say nothing o.
what transpired in the Grand Jury room, nor
would tho witnesses