The Washington times., 1919-12-14
SEIZE bRA|NARD'S
VICE BOOKS IN RAID
Harper's Plant Invaded In
Drive to Suppress
''MadeIeine,"
Continued from First pase.)


they are glad to suppress the volume
because Of its filthy character"
All the seized volumes held by the
society are to be destroyed in the
presence Of District ATTORNEY Swami
when Brainard's case is settled. The
society Is certain that the court Of
special sessions will return q convic-
ton. The application to the Post
master General for the withdrawal Of
the book from mailing privileges on
the ground Of its obsoenity may be
made before the court decision il
handed down IL necessary to stop its
circulation absolutely.
John s. Sumner, secretary OF the
society which was responsible for
Brainard's arrest, asserted that the
volume was one Of the worst things
printed in a long time, adding:
We intended to eliminate absolute
ly that book from circulation, open. or
secret. In its potential effect on read
ers, 1t is one of the worst and most
tention in q long time.
Meaning Of q Ceavistisn,
"A conviction In this case will mean
that any person possessing or offer
ing the book for sale will be liable
to criminal prosecution. and this so
ciety will be glad as matter OF duty
to appear as witnesses for the people
IN such cases"
Apparently he failed yesterday to
enjoy the situation which took him
from the grand jury expedition on
the trial of the "overshadowing
crime" and placed him on q path of
more personal import.
In holding Brainard for trial in spe-
cial sessions the magistrate handed
down q seven-page decision and opin-
ion which branded Madeleine" as
obscene lewd, lascivious, filthy, In
decent, and disgusting" Harper &
Brothers also were held and made CO.
defendants with Brainard for the
higher court.
Brainard had promised to discon-
tinue the sale of the book and had
agreed to destroy the plates at once,
feel satisfied to drop the matter.
Simpson, however, took
different view of the matter, and
replied heatedly that he had no power
to drop the complaint in that way.
He said:
MY duty is to either discharge or
hold for trial / have gone very
deeply into this subject and have
prepared an opinion. / cannot force
you to make complaint against
Harper & Bros. Mr.. Summer, but !
must refer this case to the court of
special sessions, and I have already
rendered an opinion regarding Brain
ard"
Brainard grumbled. He even tried
to address the press representatives
in open court, but was cut short by
the magistrate. As q proteges, OF
Thomas W. Lamont. representative OF
the Morgan interests in back Of Har.
per & Bros, Of which concern Brain
ard is the responsible head. he want
ed 1t understood. he said. that he
couldn't afford to be ridiculed In the
public press.
Among other things that Brainard
listened to while he absented himself
from his duties as secretary OF the
grand. jury to attend court was the
statement Of the mag. .strate.
"She (the author) reveals innu.
merable opportunities to poverty.
stricken girls to make easy money,
az it is termed; the possibility that
by following her example and con.
Quoting themselves as she did. they
might be as fortunate in the end"
Girl Allowed to Go. I
A Miss Mary Harris" an empIoye
Of Harper & Brothers. was arraigned
as a co-defendant with Brainard. The
name OF the employe was admittedly
fictitious. 1t was stated she was a
clerk In the Brainard firm. and Mag
istrate Simpson discharged her when
II was shown she had sold the book