Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-23
He Came from New York 10 PFC
fer the Charge.
RICHMOND MEN BEHIND HIM.
Mr.. Roy n. Williams Valves Exams
instion and Is hailed for Ills Ape
. pearnnce Next October-The Charge
May Not he Pressed.

Mr.. Anthony Comstock, so widely
| known through his connection with thu
Society for the Prevention OF vice. madd
his first appearance I'm Richmond yester-
! day in the role Of prosecutor.
He arrived in the city on the $40 train
| n, the morning and swore out a warrant
| for the arrest OF Roy II. Williams. WIN
| has been doing business as the Art Print
| ing Company. and is charged In the war
rant with distributing pamphlets AMI
books Of "obscene. lewd, and indecent
| pictures
Mr.. Williams was arrested by Deputy
Marshal Bendit. He waived eXaminatiou
| before United States Commissioner Hud-
| nall. and was sent on to the grand jury.
| which Will meet In Richmond next Octo-
Der. The prisoner was admitted to bail
in the sum of 500. his brother going on
the bond
| HOW THE CASE CAME UP.
The attention of Mr. Comstock was
called 10 the publication of these pictures
by committee OF Richmond merchants.
| who had previously brought the matter
to the attention Of the postal authors
ties. Some time ago, at their instigation.
| Postmaster knight made an investigation
and reported the matter to Washington.
| The department called upon Mr.. Williams
for samples of his pictures. and some
were submitted but these were not found
TO be such as warranted interference.
| However. an eye was kept on the busi-
| ness. which was advertised and seemed
| to flourish.
The committee Of Richmond gentlemen,
who had been making war upon the pubs
| LEGATION Of the pictures at length applied
To Mr.. ComstocS, who Is n post-oiiice In
spector Mr.. ComstoclS received some OF
the books, and held some communication
| with Roy Williams. which was appa-
rently unsatisfactory, and yesterday he
made his descent upon the art Printing
| Company"
MIR. COMsTOCK'S DEPOSITION.
Arriving in this city he made the fol'
! lowing deposition before Commissioner
| Hudnall:
| Anthony Comstock, a post-ofiice in-
| spector of Stamford, y. Y, being duly
| sworn. deposes and says, he Is informed
! has just cause To believe ana Verlly does
| believe and charge. that on or about
the 18th day Of August, 1889. at the city
| of Richmond, aforesaid. and within tho
| Eastern District OF Virginia, Roger IA.
! Williams, doing business, and otherwise
! known as the Art Printing Company.
| 5 south Tenth street, Richmond. Va, dit
! unlawfully and knowingly deposit ana
| cause To 0e deposited, IN the mails OF tho
! United States, then and there for mailing
| ana delivery. Il certain obscene, lewd.
! and indecent pamphlet and book. whlcn
| said book and pamphlet was bound win
! "A green paper cover, bearing upon lha
| front cover the words, High Art Port
/ folio" which said book and pampnieI
contained pictures representing young
women Invested Of their modest womanly
apparel. in divers postures' whlch
| said pictures are 80 le"d ana lhu'S'ne
that a minute description, ia deponent
opinion. would DE improper 10 spread
| upon the records OF the court. and would
| be offensive 70 the court. whereupon, Il
| further description OF the same Is omit
! Ted from this affidavit and cOinplalrA
which said book and pamphlet can Do
further identified as having been en-
| closed in "A paper wrapper WIN tni''
other hooks Of similar purpOrt. with
divers smaller books and circulars,
AGAINST the form Of the statutes OF tho
/ peopIe Of the United States OF Americas
H. The evil example OF others. subver-
| sive az the morals Of the young. aud
| against The peace Of the people OF the
said United States and their dignity
! "Deponent further says his informa-
zion ana belief Is based upon corresponds
ence with the said Roy III. Williams,
aforesaid. doing business as the Arc
| printing Company and from receiving
by mail tho said obscene book and pampA-
let I'm reply 20 a. registered letter sent
10 said AT printing Company.
HE QUITS THE BUSINESS.
After having conversation with Mr..
| comstock MI Williams consented 1o
| discontinue the publication OF the books
ana PAMPHLETS. and surrendered all tho
| mates al his possession, together VIVA
! 5000 bound copies of the art foho. lt
view of these circumstances. Mr. CONF
| stock said to a Dispatch reporter thi-
| he would not press the charges next &c
| tober. The moral effect had been oD-
| tanned, and the source of me supply cut
of. and the inspector said, with some de-
! gree OF satisfaction. that ne TEX that MS
| DAY had not been wasted.
| Dlstrict-Attorney Allan. VINO was pres
ept az the hearing before the commis-
| s,oner said ne expected the warrant
| would he withdrawn. IL would De very
| harmful. he thought. 20 give any mora
| uubicitv 10 the books ana pamphlets,
! and he believed their author had slnned
in Ignorance. and no practical purpose
would be served by pressing the charge
MR.. COMsTOcKs WORK.
Mr.. Anthony Comstock has been con-
nected with the Society for the suppress
sion OF vice since March, 1872. and ne was
made a post-oiiice inspector year laier.
Since that time he has made over zSc
arrests and seized seyenty-rye tons of
art folios and similar matter OF an OBJ
secure nature. besides thousands OF pho-
tographs and negatives.
Mr.. Comstock Is a man Of nne phy-
sioue ami his absolute fearlessness has
been demonstrated on many occasions. In
conversation with Dispatch reporter.
Mr.. S'omstock alluded TO his experiences
In New York and said that the results OF
his labors more than compensated nina
FOR the opposition ana persecution when
no had met.
Mr.. Comstock talked at SOME iensth
about his work and what no had been
able TO accomplish In the direction OF tha
suppression OF obscene literature. HE re-
turned TO New York last nisht and Will
leave for Canada to-day 10 make another
l.. - y. n A.