The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-30
Says Alleged Obscene Mat ter Was Quotation From
 Roman Catholic Works
SHARP PASSAGES
 FEATURE SPEECHES
Prosecution Charges That Defe Was Trying to Convert Pre- and Passions of Few Pc .o'
 Georgia Into Dollars an

Augusta, November 2s. testified in his own behalf today. was the only witness for the defense. He failed to get before the jury his motives in legged obscene matter, but was allowed to state that he took certain Latin quota tions alleged to be obscene, verbatim from .'The Priest, the Woman and The Con- fessional,' written by Father Charles Chiniquy and that Chhiniquy' took it from Moral Theology" book Watson said was written by Peter Dens several years ago. Watson declared this was considered a standard work of Catho- lie literature
 Watson admitted writing the articles mentioned In the indictment.
 Trial of Thomas E. Watson, which be- gan in federal court here Friday last, had progressed at adjournment of court late today to the point where the prosecution and defense each had concluded their opening arguments to the jury, which is to determine whether or not the Geor- gia author and editor is guilty of hav- Ing sent obscene matter through the Uni- ted States malls.
 In the opening speech for the govern ment, Wallace Miller, assistant United States district attorney, declared the is- sue rested solely upon whether or not the language used in several of Watson's publications mentioned in the indictment was or was not obscene. The defendant personally and through counsel had said he did Tot seek to avoid responsibility for the mailing of the matter referred to-
 Miller also urged the jury mot to con slider the prominence Of the defendant" but to judge "as though he were un- known to them. The religious, he also declared, should be swept aside, al- though I apprehend that the defense will represent the defendant as the cham pion of Protestantism against Catholi- cism.'
 DEFENSE OPENS
 " H. Fleming of Augusta, opening for the defense, urged that Watson ''be judged ill the light of the law, in the guai anteed right of the freedom of the press" and claimed the government had no case against the defendant in that
  nouncing alleged obscenities and there fore was allowable" Fleming reiterated Watson's claim that there was per sonal anilnus" behind the prosecution.
 This is not bonafide prosecution" he declared to the jury. The govern ment prosecutors objected at this point and after lengtoy discussion Fleming turned to another subject without await ing definite ruling upon his right to draw deductions" from what he termed ''the governments evidence and lack of evidence
 Watson, as his own leading counsel, is to make the closing speech for the de- fense tomorrow. He will be followed by United States District Attorney F., M. Dopalson. The case was. expected to reach the jury about noon.
 SHARP PASSAGES
 There were several sharp passages be- tween opposing counsel during argument late today In his speech, Assistant Dis trict Attorney Miller, discussing the va rious articles mentioned in the indictment, accused Watson of trying to convert prejudices and passions of few people of Georgia into dollars and cents" The defense objected, asserting that Watson had attempted to get into the record that he had received no profits from the cor poration which published the attacks but that this had been ruled out as irrele- want.
 Opening for the defense. Fleming de- clared that the defendant was mot, of course. expecting acquttal because of his political prominence" Fleming de- clared the indictment which led to this trial lis not an attempt to keep the mails pure but is an attack on account of religious differences Fleming then turned to discussion of the difference between the man who denounces ob- scenity and the man who purveys it." He classed the defendant among those who were denouncng obscenity.
 Fleming concluded by saying that the government or whoever is behind this prosecution has made a terrible blunder"
 After Fleming concluded court was ad- journed until tomorrow.