The Washington times., 1919-12-14
COPIES
EOfbRA|NARDS
| 0BSCENEDOOK
Harper's Plant Invaded In
Drive to Suppress the
Work.
CLEAR BOOKSTORE SHELVES
Volumes Go In Hiding When
Grand Jury Member Is
Araigned.
CLEAR BOOKSTORE SHELVES

NE WYORK, Dec. 14.-Rapid de-
velopments took place yesterday in
the prosecution of Clinton Z. Brain
ard, former Washington publisher,
secretary of the extraordinary grand
jury, and j. P. Morgan's representa-
tive in Harper & Brothers, for the
publication of the scandalous book,
Madeline"
Brainard. who is president Of the
publishing house. and has been at
lacking Mayor Hylan, is out on bail
of $500. pendinx trid h ia sonrt
of special sessions, for printing and
selling "the filthy and obscene book.
Brands Book Disgusting.
City Magistrate George w. Simpson.
who held Brainard for trial. asserted
there was sufficient cause to believe
him guilty. The magistrate branded
the book as disgusting and demoral-
izing, with all its potential and cor.
the young OF the city"
Following the court action 1t was
learned that:
The Society for the Suppression
of Vice is conducting a city-wide cam
paign to rid the town of every copy
of the saiacious publication.
2-Harper & Bros. was raided by the
society's agents. armed with warrants,
and despite the protests of Brainard's
employees. several cases of the obscene
book were seized.
3-Reputable booksellers are throw
ing the book from their shelves in this
city and authorities in other large
cities are preparing TO take official
action.
EThe Society for the Suppression
of Vice is considering the filing of a
formal application to the Postmaster
General to bar the book from the
mails.
The raid on Harper & Bros. followed
the formal issuing of a search war
rant.
Demand Books and Plates.
Agents of the Society for the Sup
preston of Vice entered the build
ing on Franklin Square and demand
ed all copies OF the. books. the un-
bound pages, and the plates from
which they were printed. In describ-
ing what ensued, one of the raidink
agents said last night:
we were given no assistance by
the company or its employees. On the
contrary. they were very much huffed
at our appearance. When the var
rants were shown, they said thew
supposed we had the right to go
ahead, but that We would have to
look for the stuff ourselves.
Finally We found several cases of
the book in the shipping department
ready to be sent out. We seized
them. with other copies found else
where, and carted all we could fnd
away
When we asked for the plates
they would not tell us where thew
were kept We searched in vain
out ultimately We got formal
promise from the company that the
plates would be held intact and no
copies of the book printed pending
court action. With that we had to
be satisfied. but Brainard still holds
the plates.
Many Had been Printed.
Another significant fact was no
uced. We got the records of the
bindery of Harper Il Brothers, which
showed that many more OF the books
mad been printed in the period COW
cred than could be found. 1t was ex-
planned that the difference represent
q what had ben shippd out in sthas
period"
special agents of the society arc
sweeping the city for copies Of the
inoecent volume. Department stores
nave been warned of Magistrate
SIMPSONS action and have promptly
pulled the book from their shelves.
owners OF retail book stores are be.
ing canyassed by agents seeking to
purchase the book. and wherever a
suppy Is located the owner is no.
titled that criminal prosecut,on viii,
follow unless the book Is withdrawn
and destroyed. One agent said last
night:
virtually all the dealers declared
(Coatinued ON pao> /, r-,. a.,