The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-04
.YY0OER IS GIVEN
TERM IN JAIL,
FINE AND BOND
Convicted of Publishing OBJ
scene Matter and Serve
Penalty imposed
/ QUOTES BIBLE TO
JUSTIFY HIS WORDS
Declares That Motives, Not Langu-
age, Must Be Judged and Wings
Admission that Evil He
Fought is Permitted.

turr rrr-r raT Il rEnuenUy TO corrupt
the morals Of the young, Adon A.
oder, editor and publisher of The
Idea, stood behind the railing In Poo
lice Court Wednesday morning and
read To an audience that packed the
room the seventh chapter of Proverbs
as a Justification for his acts.
1t was the first time In the history
of the court that the Bible, upon
which all witnesses swear. has been
brought into case and used as eyi-
dence either in defense or or against
a person,
After hearing. which lasted for
two hours. MIR. Yoder was found guilty
and fined 500, ordered to serve thirty
days in jail and to furnish security
IN the sum of $500 for his good be-
havior for twelve months. In renders
ing his decision Justice Crutchfield
severely criticised MIR. Yoder for the
publication of such pamphlet and
challenged him to show wherein any
good has resulted from it.
Jail, Fine and Bond.
Mr.. Yoaer could not, at once, fur.
nlsn the bond tor the appeal he noted
ana was annoyed the privilege oil hoId-s
lpss u con. ersauon WIN his friends in
the private once of the presiaing
justice. me appeal bond ia Tor $Suvr
covering the necessary security for an
appeal from any sentences sV0--and
tAe additional 500 security that the
lower eourt imposed.
Under the sentence, II Yoder pub
fishes anything against any one, or
that. In the OPINION OF justice Crutcn-
neta, Is NOT proper, his bonosrnen Will
forfeit the sSVU bail, noLWilnsrand-
ing the appeal Mr.. Ioder talked
over tine aslepnone with MIR. Cooke.
OF the law nrin of Meredith &c Cooke.
as 10 the napiilty OF ms Dondsm6n
and for an hour remained in the pf1-,
/ waite once of the justice before NJ
was bsslHsst tar his aRpeal. i3onx1s
was furnished by Mr.. w. q. Smith.
VINO has peen the friend OF the pub
hsner all the while.
MIR. oder appeared as his own ut.
torney. ana dld not TESTIFY except In
his argument TO the court, an argu-
rnent that vas based upon what ne
had read in the Binie and his efforts
to- point IA moral to the young men
who might be enticed INTO some or
the vices against which he was max
ing hight
Inieg ON Witness stand.
Chief OF t'oiice werner was tbs
only witness examined. he admitted
that he was responsible for the is
suance of the warrant against i0der.
Mr. Yoder admitted the publication
of the book. and this opened the way
for the examination of the police CHIEF
by MIR. Yoder, an examination that
was spicy rich and rare. Major Wer-
ner read the Objectionable artieie--A
Walk Through Mayo reet'--p0tnt~
ing out what ne thought was offensive
to the people of the city and what
he claimed would corrupt the morals
of the boys and girls who not only
sold the paper, but who would read
1t. and some perhaps. he said. would
make an investigation of the charac-
ter of the neigh porhood described BY
the writer.
You were chief Of police when
Harry Thaw was tried. were you not?'s
asked Mr.. Yoder.
II think | was" answered Major
Werner.
did you issue q warrant against
any OF the editors of the Richmond
newspapers for reporting the details
of that trial."
Il did not"
why did you swear out this war~
rant against me?"
Upon complaint of citizens"
who made any complaint Name
some Of the citizens"
II do not have TO do that Upon
Information received l swore out the
warrant. Tho evidence is in the
pamphlet that | offer as evidence"
Did any minister say that the mos
rails of the youth would be damagedr
Did the Woman's Christian Temper-
ance Union make any complaint
Not directly to me-"
Justice Crutchfield here interpreted
with the question, Did the w. G. r.
IT, }memb ers ever read such an article
as you wrote?'
Church Officer Complains
Mr.. Yoder answered that he did noe
know, and then followed his question:
ing of Major Werner by asking II any
lady or any police commission had
ever complained, or had any Sunday
school superintendent said the pubs
lication was not proper. 4ss
The chief, replying to one of thes0
questions, answered that an ofsicsr ~,
the Second Baptist church had madA
y complaint to him about the alleged
obscene publication.
did you ever read the Bible,'. aa1ess
ed the defendant of the chief.
Eyes. SIR" responded the chief.
Justice Crutchfeld: But the Btbfos
was written. Mr.. Yoder. for . diners
ent purpose than this book was WITT
ten 1t was intended to uplift mAns
kind. The purpose was different
II doubt that seriously. Il yone
honor pleases," exclaimed Mr.. Yodo1S
Il cite you to the seventh chapter &
Porverbs, which will read hokOrn
finish examining this witness" III
And then. standing behind the 49,
the accused publisher read the char
ter from Holy Writ. sS
Commemorative Attorney F0IEN3
remarked that this Was not entIrS3I
proper In any legal prpcecdinas -
inasmuch as Mr.. Ypd4r MMa hl9
attorney, and was not acquainted
the law. he would allow Il ~
come out. I'M az
After finishing the reAd1AH
lcontinusd q nixsh 1nSs NJ