The Washington herald., 1906-10-16
COMCTOCK IS KISSED
Students Attend Trial Which
Involves Their Rights.
GIRL CLERK THE DEFENDANT
Becomes HystericaI When BadEered
on Witness stand, and Judge TAX
ing Pity on Her AdjOurns Court.
Many Objectionable Catalogues
Are Sent Through the Mails.

New York, Oct 5.-When Anthoay
Comstock left the Jefferson Market Po-
lice Court this afternoon at the adjourn
ment of the hearing Of his case against
the Art Students League, he was round
~ Kissed and hooted by u great gather
ing Of artists.
The scene in court was a revival Of the
battle that began three months ago. when
Comstock. as the head of the Anti-Vice
Society, swoopea down on the Art
Leagues building. In West Fifty-seventa
street. seized half a ton OF offending lIt-
erature, and arrested Miss Anna Robin
son, the circulation clerk in charge, on a
warrant charging her with having I'M
proper pictures in her possession.
Hundreds of artists and art students at
tended the trial to-day. Never before was
so much talent and hair assembled in the
old building One side of the room WAS
set aside for woman artists and they
filed il. On the opposite side were scores
of gifted young men addicted to long
black ties, Dyke boards, and dandruff on
coat collar.
The first witness was Mr. Comstock's
agent. Charles J. BambeTger. who testified
that he went into the rooms of the Art
Students League. at 215 West Fifty-sev-
euth street, on August and found Miss
Robinson in charge of a room on the low
or floor. He asked for and obtained
catalogue. or pamphlet, containing the
two untaiIored pictures. He said he was
accompanied by COmstOck. and that they
obtained from Miss Robinson copies OF
the catalogues.
COmstOck Also Testi8eS,
Mr.. Comstock corroborated his agent,
saying also that Miss Robinson had said
the pamphlets were free to anybody and
everybody who wanted one. After obtain
ing the catalogues. Mr.. Comstock told
Miss Robinson that he had a search war
rant emitting him to take possession Of
all the catalogues in the rooms. She
showed him upstairs and made no Objec-
tiOn TO his taking a lot OF catalogues, in
eluding about q thousand that were ad-
dressed and ready for distribution.
Mr. Comstock said that he had also
found pictures Of two nude persons that
he had not disturbed, because he realized
that they We're for the use Of the artists.
Magistrate Mayor suggested that they
had nothing 10 do with the case.
Miss Robinson, the ostensible defend
ant. over whose shoulders the anti-vicers
are striking at the Art League. is a
pretty girl, who WAS badly embarrassed
ana evidently suffering acute mOTtifica-
ton when she came to testify. Com
stock himself examined her.
What's your real name?" asked the
| APOSTLE Of Purity.
The girls face burned a rosy red.
Anna Riebley," she said in a whisper
Her lawyer. E. c. Crowley. angrily pro-
| tested.
Your honor" he shouted, this is an
outrage. For professional reasons my
client took another name. It IS important
/ that her real name should not be given
out. She is being i'll treated
Girl Becomes HystericaI.
For fifteen minutes Comstock badgered
the girl in an effort to make her admit
she had sold copies of the catalogue for
cash. Tired out with answering NO. -
the young woman burst into tears and be-
/ came hysterical
Lawyer Crowley. for the defendant,
! submitted 10 the magistrate a letter from
Postmaster Wilcox to the agent on the
charge of a substatiOn where a number of
the catalogues were held uD awaiting the
agent 20 let the catalogues pass. as the
/ Assistant Postmaster General had de-
cided that they Were mailable. Nr. COM
| stock objected 10 the Introduction Of this
/ as evidence. The magistrate promptly ad-
mitted it and 1t was marked for identi-
/ fication.
The case was adjourned to October q.
when COmstOck and Lawyer Crowley viii
submit briefs and argue for their respec-
tive sides. The young woman was paroled
in the custody of Mr.. Crowley She was
OF the verge of tears when she left the
stand. She was kissed by her woman
friends. and the men art students grasped
! her hand