New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-28
JUDGE WALL0PS
SLAVE FILM" MEN
Gavegan Holds Private
Gain, Not Moral Up
~ lift, Is Their Aim.
DENIES APPLICATION
Il FOR INJUNCTION

Mrs. Boissevain Takes Issue with
Court, Believing Lesson
Taught Worth While.
Z Justice Gavogan. in the supreme
Court yesterday denied the application
for an injunction restraining the ponce
from closing the Inside of the White
Slave Traffic" film exhibition at the
ParI, Theatre, and, in his opinion, de-
livered a vigorous wallop at the pro-
motors and volunteer supporters OF the
pictures.
This decision does not specifically
apply TO the similar exhibition at the
Bijou Theatre. but as the question oil
injunction for that house will come be-
fore him tomorrow, there cannot he
uny doubt that Justice Gavegan will
take like stand. The Bijou gave
shows yesterday, and will give them
again to-day.
Frederic II. Robinson, Of the Soclo-
logical Fund of The Medical Review
of Reviews" who is associated with the
fogr brokers projecting the pictures
declared last night they had engaged
prominent lawyer, who would appeal
the case Immediately.
Mrs. Boissevain as Defender
Mrs. Inez Milholland Boissevain. who
contends enthusiastically that the pict-
llrcs teach "a great moral lesson SAID
last night her opinion had not been in
fuenced by Justice Gavegan's remarks
aud that ne really could not judge the
ease on its merits until he saw the
films
Justice Gavcgan vacated the tempo
rary restraining injunction on Friday.
Yesterday his decision was on the
merits of the case" ne having reserved
decision on Friday on the questions in
VOWED until he had had an oppor-
tunity TO sift the conflicting decisions
of the Appellate divisions all through
the state.
The court, in his opinion, said he
could see no reason why films depicting
scenes in questionable places should be
entitled to the protection Of a court of
equity.
e 1T is contended by the plaintiff the
Sociological Research Film Company
in affidavits furnished by disinterested
individuals whose motives ii is not
within the province of this court TO
ha
the pictures contain a great moral les
son TO fathers and mothers calculated
60 impress upon their minds the urgent
need of protecting their daughters
from the influence of evil associations,
''The answer to this is that the eX-
hibition has not been confined TO
fathers and mothers: that there is no
evidence before me that the owners
thereof propose or desire to so confine
it's and that the evidence shows that
they are conducting the enterprise not
for the uplft of public morals. but for
private gain"
'JustiCe Gavegan holds that the police
are within their rights in attempting
TO prevent the continued violation Of
the section OF the Penal Code which
covers exhibitions which would tend
to the corruption of the morals OF
Youths or others, and then adds
st might be possible to find indi-
viduals Of such morbid curiosity that
they would be willing TO pay an adj
mission price to see the inside work
ings Of a sewer, and others Of such
staricious enterprise that they would
beo ready to capitalize such morbid
curiosity and furnish the exhibition
for a price. and still others, among
the well meaning and utwary who
would lend their sanction and privi-
lege 10 the idea in the belief that such
an exhibition by its horrible example
might tend TO improve the habits of
cleanliness of some in the audience
and that the public ought TO know
about it, in any event. If the illus
tration is disagreeable it is no more SO
than the facts with which | have to
deal
Be- Theatres Licensed by City.
THEATRES are licensed by the city
and are subject TO the inspection and
supervision of the authorities. This
court doubts if the owners Of the plain
tin corporation would have had the
audacity TO undertake the public dis
play Of certain revolving details con-
tanned in the exhibition, knowing. as
they must. that their business exists
by mere sufferance of the law, il it
were not for the general discredit in
which they evidently, but enormously,
believe the police TO be held in this
city.
1.-THE police as a body are entitled
10. and | believe have, the confidence
ofsithe community at large, notwith-
standing the reflections now and then
cast upon them by the conduct Of some
OF their unworthy members. II would
bs. equally unjust to stigmatize the
theatrical managers as a class because
of exhibitions of depravty and in
ordinate greed for gain on the part or
some of their members"
sMrs Boissevain, in commenting on
the decision, said:
Much OF Justice Gavegan's decision