The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-11
Mayor Prohibits Her Ap.
pearance on Academy
Stage Tonight.
ACTS ON OPINION
BY CITY ATTORNEY
Company May Give Performance,
as Advertised, but Major Wer-
ner Will Promptly Stop 1t if
Mrs. Thaw Attempts to
Dance-Theatre Peo-
pie Are Notified.

Holding that the public appearances
OF Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw would be
suhversive of the morals and good orr
der Of the people, Mayor Ainslie yea
terday informed the Leath theatrical.
Company that he would forbid her APP
pearng at the Academy of Music this
afternoon and tonight, and instructed
Major Werner to enforce his order. No
tce of his action was sent to w. Grea-
no. Neal and Leo Wise by special
messenger. and a copy of his order WAS
given to Major Werner.
The performance may be given with
out Mrs Thaw, but II she attempts to
dance she will be promptly arrested.
The Mayor acted on the official and
written opinion of City Attorney Pol
lard who held that 1t was within tho
jurisdiction of the chief magistrate OF
the city to prevent the exhibition of
any play which. by reason of it's plot
or any person participating In any OF
its scenes, would outrage public de-
cency.
Ministers NIade Complaint.
Complaint against the play was made
first by n committee from the Ministe-
rial Union, which appeared before May.
or Ainslio on Monday and urged that
Mrs. Thaw be not allowed to appear
because of her connection with tho
murder of Stanford White and her as
socialion with the slayer. The conf
mittee stated that the ministerial Union
believed that her performance would
tend to eXalt vice and glorify crime
Mayor Aiuslie informed the commit
tee that he would take no. action until
he had received an opinion from the
City Attorney as to his authority in
such cases, and tho matter was refer
red to City Attorney Pollard for con-
sideration. t,
City Attorneys Opinion.
An extract from City Attorney Pol-
lard's opinion, which covered six typo
written pages, follows:
1T is well settled that whatever out
RACES public decency and Is injurious
to public morals is indictable; IL indict-
BILE, then an offcnse against the law
and liz an offense then a conscrvator
of the peace may take official means to
prevent.
Therefore. hold. In the light of this
concise statement of the law and of
the deduction I made therefrom, that if
the exhibition. by reason of the plot
itself. by reason of the scenes present
ed, or if the character or reputation
OF the persons participating In tho
scenes outrages public decency, YOU
are authorized to prohibit the exhi-
bition."
Mayors Letter to Managers.
The letter OF Mayor Ainslie to those
In authority at the Academy of Music
follows:
MeSSrs. Leath Theatrical Company, w.
Greanor Neal and Leo Wise, Acad-
einy OF Music. city:
Gentlemen.-l ann advised by the
number and character of representa-
tions that have been made to mo to
the effect that the public appearance
In this city of Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit
Thaw, who Is advertised. to appear at
the Academy OF Music February IL,
matinee and evening. outraSes tho
sense Of public decency of this city,
and will be subversive OF the morals
and good order of the people. especial-
ly the young. Therefore, acting under
the authority vested In me as tho chief
magistrate OF the city. 1 forbid and
prohibit the appearance OF Mrs. Thaw
at the times and place mentioned above,
and you are hereby notified accord
ingly.
Very truly yours.