The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-31
CONSTOCK SHOUTS IN COURT.
RED WITH RAGE HE ATTACKS
Art IN THE ALTOGETHER.
Girl clerk OF the Art League GOes
INTO Mysteries After Badgering on the
witness stand Purifier Declares Art
IL Responsible for 0O. q Outcasts.

II looked for a time yesterday az II the
continuation Of the Art Students League
hearing in the West Side police court, on
charges preferred by Anthony Comstock
that the league was sending out pictures
If nudemen and m would end in a free
for all fight. The lie was frequently passed
between Mr.. Comstock and Lawyer Z. C..
Crowley, principals in the examination.
There was not a dull moment, n fOlks who
hacked themselves into the stuffy private
nearing chamber were well repaid for their
discomfort. Miss Robinson, the defendant,
became so unstrung under an ordeal Of ques-
tioning that she grew hysterical after being
excused and tainted in the Magistrates
prtyatc room. Friends gathered about her
hastily, but it was some time before the
Young woman was able to leave the building.
Comstock appeared at the police court
an hour before the hearing was called,
ACCOMPANIED by W. G. Hitchcock, John +.
Martin, W. II. King and A. F. Libbey, all
officers Of his vice suppression society.
The men occupied chairs in a row along the
hearing table, with Comstock at the head.
He appeared very grave. Miss Robinson,
the defendant, an attractive young woman,
sat across the way beside II. Daniel Webster.
president Of the board OF control OF the
Art Students League, aud Lawyer Crowley.
Miss Robinson plainly showed signs OF worry
and was exceedingly nervous. The spec
>tators for the most part were young men
and women members of the league.
Miss Robinson said that 800 copies Of the
American Students of Art Magazine for
June were sent put 400 to students. She
said that about 1900 had been printed.
Her duties. Miss Robinson said, consisted
in taking care Of the mail and auditing
account books. All moneys received we're
sent upstairs to the corresponding score
tary's office, she stated, and Miss Catherine
Harrington and Miss NJ. j. Mersereau were
In charge.
This is the point, exclaimed COM
stock. Now I wapt to get at your superior
the responsible party who made it easy
for any child to get one Of these circulars
simply by the payment Of 81
Neither Miss Harrington nor Miss Mer-
eereau was in court when called by the
complainant. Miss Robinson was then
excused. Comstock apologized for having
10 hold her. Magistrate Mayo did like
wise and she was led trembling from the
room. She afterward collapsed from the
nervous strain.
Lawyer Crowley then moved that the
DIOCttIlDkb IN Nl6AllhnbCN III VIC bAONAAA
that the magazines we're not obscene, but
works Of art. He said the pictures alleged
TO be ewd we're only studies which an art
school pays close attention to.
ITO a man whose mind Is trained to see
in everything something lustful the pictures
might be taken as lewd, " he cried shaking
his clenched fist in Comstocks face. The
latter started to rise but was promptly
motioned down by the Magistrate.
mfr. Comstock alleges this young woman
told him he could have q COPY Of this mag
azine for is cents" said Lawyer Crowley.
Nov, can you picture o woman o: this type
leaning over the counter and bartering?
Impossible. I submit afidavlts showing
Mr.. Comstock Is a man unworthy OF belief.
He maliciously overstcpped the authority
Of his search warrant. On the day OF the
arrest Mr.. Comstock said, DO yon suppose
I'm persecuting young womenT replied,
Il: looks So Then l said Why not subeti-
tute the name OF some male member OF the
league instead Of this poor grip He re-
piled, 'It's too late, the warrant IL already
made out" -
That is absolutely untrue, I said
sOrder, gentlemen. order!" cried MagiA
trate Mayo, Jumping 70 his feet. Proceed.
It said, Then let's substitute the name
Robinson for the girls real name, Com
s Mssssr {RSms30oE me- { ySST s sSiS he. T TSsn
ANtDNCI NsOlAINONhH NApSNN oNHA 49, 49,
Mr.. Comstock went back on his word-de-
Nberately dragged the poor girls real name
into the affair"
THAT is not a true version said Com
ut ock, hristling, Il want the truth am
not fighting this case for the new spapers,
like the learned young council here
You shouldn't have mixed up in all this
II you didn't care for notoriety. l know
you don't like it, said Crowley with cutting
why, this man Comstock is a mono
maniac the lawyer went on He is a
degenerate as far as the consideration OF
others 10 concerned"
Comstock. trembling. jumped to his feet
and Rlared at Crowley. After some minutes
he compoeed himself and said:
1.-THE Supreme Court Of the United States
has ruled that the greatest duty Of the Gov
ernment 10 to preserve health and morals.
the board Of control Of the Art League:
haven't enough backbone TO step forward
and take the place Of this poor; trembling
woman they are not worthy OF their names.
They are d~isgraceful hounds to be skulking
behind this woman's skirts-the one whom
they employed to do their dirty work and
pass out the nasty literature. Nice men,
theyi" Comstock shouted, pounding the
table with a ~resounding whack that larry
made 20 spectators blin he was req
with rage and his voice could be heard In
the street below. A couple Of court cops
in uniform hustled into the room thinking
trouble WIS imminent.
Il ask II IL were advertised that a naked
man or woman was to appeal in Madison
Square Garden, would not the police inter-
fere2' continued Comstock, swaying to and
fro dramatically. Certainly they would.
The Garden would not hold the crowd II
the show was allowed to go on. These
pictures are Just as bad-they portray the
human body in the entire. Why should
they be tolerated."
Comstock declared that Lawyer Crowley
broke the agreement in mentioning Miss
Robinson's real name-not he. The latter
interrupted, but was prevented from speak
ing by the Magistrate.
7Is il decent TO put a naked man or a
naked woman upon exhibition in a show
Window said Comst ock, shaking his
finger at Crowley.
DO they ever do itP" retorted Crowley,
with a laugh.
mo; it is not allowed, and I'll not permit
you 20 do it either, Mr.. Art League" replied
Comstock. There was a smoker through
out the room.
Its these young men Of the Art League
who are infiue ncing 10000 young girls an
nually TO turn to lives OF shamei" shouted
Mr.. Comstock. .
You mean TO accuse us Of that2' asked
LAWYER Crowley, jumping to his feet.