The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-14
COURT BARS fight FILMS
~ STICE SWAYZE SETTLES THE
QUESTION ron NEW JERSEl.
Holds HUDSON County Grand Jury 20 In.
diet Anybody VINO show JeHries-
johnson Moving Pictures-state Law
Under witch Authorities Can Act


Under witch Authorities Can Act.
In a special charge TO tho Hudson
county. y J.. Grand Jury In jersey City
Yesterday afternoon Supreme Court jus
tice Francis J. SwAyze said that moving
picture exhibitions Of priEehghts 'pander
to the vicious and disorderiy elements
Of society and gave notice that II the
Jeferies-Johnson fight pictures are shown
in Hudson county the court will call the
Grand Jury together in order that In
dictments may be presented for its action.
Justice Swayzes instructions that the
exhibitions would not he lawful in New
Jersey will solve q problem which hAs
been bothering some Of the Mayors and
chiefs ~ police in the country. The
municipal authorities have a wholesome
respect for the Justices say-so and IL
is not believed that any Of them will dare
to take a chance Of permitting sports
and others TO get public squints at the
pictures in their respective hailiwicks
What the Court said in his charge applies
Of course to all parts Of New jersey. but
action in the various counties will depend
on the view point and nerve Of the local
officials and the political pulls OF the
moving picture captains OF industry.
Justice SwayZe sAid
The Court has determined not to discharge
YOU for the term More than two months
intervene between the present time and the
opening OF the September term. and serious
matters may IN the meantime make u
desirable IN have prompt action by Grand
Jury one witch may arise 10 OF such novelty
that / think Il sdvissble to state the Law
upon the subject. largely IN the hope that
II the law IL understood IL may not be rio-
lated
Las, ve~k there vas q prisensh, in the
state .! Nevada An attempt may be made
N this ,ouutv 20 show moving pictures OF
that = -ht sl'hough I hope tina, the timely
action vhi,b the police authorities intend
- tate ma, prevent Il There seems 20
10 .Nrrn iount bout the Law in other States.
there an h" none in New Jersey. The Law
- '.r.- stated ny legal writer OF repute
y."iir exhibition Of any kind that
tends 20 ne Eruption Of morals. 20 dis
urban = - me peace or Of the general
order ami welfare ~ society i public
uIi..n,c Under this head sre included all
.u,.ppa' shows. lsgertemAin obrCene pictures
and any and all exhibitions the natural
t.udsn,. Ut which l. 20 pander To vicious
and dtSorderlv mem bers Of society
ION. -ding a. We ought great liberty
m sNr. o.'ions Tor the amusement and en-
not gs'rrU eNhih'tions that tend - ,or-
rrt.t uguIi. morals. 10 aus. disturbance
81 o.. rIsIt peace or 90 the general order
.nI NslfArs oi society. ~ pandsr to TIE
..ious amt di~nrdsrN In considering The
question wnit trnds - corrupt public
uor.l- 80 ought To look 80 the declarations
OF the legislature. the "fticial declarations
~ IN" state
our legislature has not only made prize
hnN ha. nat
person Who u present at such night for
The purpose OF witnessing the same Is guilty
Of A IN i~demeanOr. with such a de, lara
ton on ne part Of our Legislature u CAnnot
he questioned that an exhibition Of NOV ing
pU ture~ Of suCh a hEht which are we'll
al. ulat~d to encourage practi'es de-
noun. 81 by the at. tends to the corruption
~ morals and - q publtc nuisance
II the pictures are accurate and an actual
reprodu ton OF the sCene the eject upon
-pe. taturS must Approximate the eject
of the artual hght II they are made up
and not photographs Of the A~tual hght
their eae"t can hardly be less and there "
besides the possible element OF fraud upon
the publtr II II no answer Ia say that such
An eIhibtio like the hght itself. may
attract worthy and sztImable citizens
I'm fact u panders To the vicious and DIS
orderly clements Of -ociety. " causes them
- gather IN crowd under circumstan. e.
likely - lead 20 a disturbance OF the peace
This danger seems especially probable IN
the present case
II such an exhibition occurs in this county
the court will call you together IN order
that an indt'tment may be presented to
you for your action.
Mayor Jacob HatIssling Of Newark says
he will rot interfere with the exhibition Of
the JefrieS-Johnson fight pictures IN that
CITY In letter yesterday replying to
ministers Who had asked him to prevent
such AN exhibition he said:
There are many thIngs which may he
objectionable from some points Of view
but which nevertheless are not illegal. a.
YOU are doubt lees aware. do not believe
that you would desire or request me to
act without warrant or law IN this matter.
for that. a. you will realize. would be dis
tinctly oppressive and tyrannous. This
TO my mind II the most Questionable
form in which an officiAl can manifest his
disregard Of his duty and the rights Of
citizens