The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-04
COMIC VALENTINE
PUT UNDER A BAN
Philadelphia Judge Declares
to Send Them is Ground
For Criminal LiLel.
COMMON LAW SUSTAINS HIM
Decision viii, in All Probability, Drive
the GTOtesque Missives Out
of Favor.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4.-The comic
valentine has been outlawed
With shocking disregard for OLD St.
Valentine and the merry custom which
has survived for centuries. the inexOra-
bic law has declared that the sending Of
a valentine IS a 'Teprehensible act and
punishable by law"
The court has been Illuminating on the
legality Of the penny valentine for more
than a month. IL has listened 20 lengthy
arguments from learned lawyers, and
the Official dictum has come at last IN
the shape Of a siX-page opinion from
Judge Stake IN Quarter Sessions Court.
in which he holds that a valentine IS a
malicious printed Islander. exposing one
20 ricidule. contempt and degradation OF
character
JUST how the comic valentine happened
10 claim the attention Of the court is an
interesting story-a story which gives
legal airing 70 the troubles between
Anna Apologize and her sIster-in-laW.
Laura Mitchell. They both live on Par
IRISH street. above Thirty-cighth. a few
doors from each other. but in other re-
spects they are as distant as If they
lived a thousand miles apart.
Received Valentine.
Last February il appears. laura
Mitchell received an anonymous valen-
tine IN the handwriting Of her sister-iu-
law, she declares. The valentine was Of
such a nature that IL provoked her 10
.ongage a lawyer, who had the sister-in-
law brought into court 10 answer 10 the
charge OF criminal libel
The accused sIster-in-law had her law
Yer nIe a demurrer 20 have the indict-
ment quashed. The lawyer presented FIVE
lengthy and technical reasons wLy the
demurrer should bee sustained
Judge Stake gave the matter lUug
and serious consideration. He handed
down his decision explaining why he
ONeTTuled the demurrer Judge Stake
goes 10 great length 10 describe the par
tcular valentine which caused tie Tou-
1T contains a picture Of scroll.
pair OF scales. "a book and q woman,
says the judge I'm his decision, painted
IN coloTs. with the following Inscription
upon them.
- TO Ny Valeuuee. Trouble Make
Scandal Lies. Dtlcr Peoples Business
SANDER. The Woman With q Misch!ev-
Gus Tongue.
The Offending Verse.
30 To stir up a row IS 20 you such JOY.
That the whole Of your time IN such
work you employ.
III some one had courage 70 muzle your
Jaws,
The neighbors would hail the good deed
with applause
Upon the scroll was the following in
scription: 'Liceuse.-This Is 10 certify
that I may he al any liluc that think
there is money in tt"
Judge Stake. declares that 'it is a
misdemeauOr al common law. puuisua BILE
ION Indictment Wilh fine and impris0u-
Weut. 90 write rud publish dcfamat0ry
words OF any living person OF exhibit
amy picture or cfiiEy defamatory OF
him, and consequently holds that the
Indictment can be- sustained.
Judge Stakes decision clearly indI-
Gates that hereafter any one may find
ample grounds for criminal libel On a
comic valentine.
II is exceedingly probable that the
groteslue carlcatgreS which have been
regularly hung i'm the small store win
dows during the first two weeks IN
February Tor years past will be seen no
more and that the ST. Valentines Day
Joker VIII have 20 COunne himself 10
The inucCuoUs creations OF pink angels
and lace paper.