The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-12

not objectionable 20 the extent that il
is obscene or tending 10 corrupt the
morals OF youth
Nothing has been introduced here
- show that the article I'm question
has ever offended anyone or that Il
has corrupted a single youth. No one
has been willing TO come here and say
that his children have been corrupted,
or that they have even read it, No
evidence has been introduced TO show
that the article manifestly tends TO
corrupt.
Il have shown you by passages
from Holy Writ that are read TO
young men and women in the home
and in the church that contain words
have used in almost every book of
the Bible-the greatest book on
morals that has ever been written.
The words in themselves are not OBJ
scene-this is determined by their
usage.
"NIy pamphlet has been intended 20
check vice and immortality. The pur-
pose Of my pamphlet, though not as
broad in its scope as the works or Holy
Writ. is the same. | defy anyone 60
say that my pamphlet has hat any
other tendency than TO improve the
moral tone OF the city.
defense, my nctiOs -..s,s = louder
than mere WOrds-.uE mercy. No
one knows vshnt I have suffered in
the cause of right and justice and
II come not TO plead Tor myself,
but for OthCrs-thOsc who will feel
whatever sentence Is imposed
thousand times more severely than
will. II I alone WAS to suffer I
could endure "a a. a martyr.
would willingly do it for the cause
of right.
II plead not for myself, but for
common Justice. Were "a not for
Uiy family. 4 doubt 81 4 would make
any plea, but any sentence inflicted
upon ne comes dOubly grIcVOus 90
my loved ones.
81 plead not simply for her-I
feel that 90 would De "a small price
e. F0N IT only one OF two were 20
suucr-but for my little ones.
Nour decision may help 10 carry
hurt 81"
During his plea the accused's eyes
frequently wclled with tears.
Mr.. FOlkes closed for the prOsccu-
UOn in one Of the most bitter and
scathing arrangements that has ever
been heard IN the Police Court, or am
other court in Richmond. for that
matter. Addressing himself to the
court. he said:
Don't sit ON that bench and SAY
that the contents of this book do MOI
tend to corrupt the morals Of your
flesh and blood; that they do not en-.
ter your home as a wolf i'm sheep.
clothing. / pray to God that the sane.
tity of your home is such that thi:
pamphlet could exert no evil influence
Put how about those in more hum
BILE walks of life. the morals of thos,
whom this obscene literature would
tend to corrupt? How about the lit
tie boy and SRI who sell them?
Il ann not here To impugn the mo-
tiveS of this gentleman. but my dut,
as servant Of the people of thi!
grand old Commonwealth cOmpelS III,
to say that an article Of this charac
TO Cn1h 1.N- nd rir-1g- Z /,
streets of our city. cannot uplift tn,
morals of youth. but. to the contrary
it most manifestly tends to corrupt
This young man says that he /!
here to uplift. not To corrupt. the NOR
al tone OF our beautiful city. Their,
is a right way TO uplift and there i!
wrong way"
Before imposing sentence, Justic,
Crutchield said:
Il looked for an arrest in this case
the day the article appeared. | re
ligiously RETAINED from having any
thing To do with the matter. although
| did speak TO the Commonwealth:
Attorney about it.
lit il useless for Mr.. EodCr To
tell me what his motives are.
They were fOrCibly manifested in
the recent Atkinson case.
This man. who says lac came
TO Richmond TO improve the
brought here as n paid hircIing
by man who was convicted Of
keeping one of the most damnabie
houses of vice that has ever come
to my attention.
He was brought here 10 damn
those who mcted out justice TO
his bcncfactor. For months he
lived as beneficiary Of his
bounty. during which time he
sought to damn everything and
everyone.
ITO save himself he turned on
his bencfaCtor and told OF his hav-
ing been imported here out of a
desire for revenge on the part
of the man who brought him
here. And yet he says we doubt
his motives.
Il am not inclined 10 be undul,
severe on him. | have ever temper
ed justice with mercy and / shall no
deViate now"
Addressing himself to Yoder. n
continued:
Il am going to fine you; l am go
ing to sentence you to a term in tn
city Jail and l shall fix it so that you
publication will have to cease.
Your various attacks on me haV
been maliciously false. have pai
no attention to the l.. however, no
considering them woltcN oI Considera
ton. I hold no malice towards yo
for your references 10 me. and shal
not he biased by them in impcsin
sentence. You have had TO hav
something sensational TO sell you
paper.
Il fine you 500, sentence you I
thirty days in the city Jail and re
quire you to furnish $500 security I
keep the peace towards all citizens G
this Commonwealth for a period c
twelve months"
BISHOP IS NOT