The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-15
THE DEM VIRGIN
.LOWAND VULGAR,
N,Y,COURTHOLDS
A. n. Woods jailed When Cop
Says Actress Discarded Every
thing But Two Moles."

NEW YORK. Nov. 10. - A. II.
Queer Of THE Demi-Virgin," now play
ing at the Eltinge Theater. was
charged In a complaint, entered yes
terday by Chief City Magistrate Will
lam McAdOo, with presenting an "im.
moral and impure drama and show.
Mr.. Woods was held by the magis
trate for trial in the court of special
sessions In the sum Of $1,000. He has
been ordered to appear today before
Magistrate McAdoo for arraignment
and the posting of bail.
The complaint, charging Woods
with violating Section 1140A of the
renal law each time he presents THE
Demi-Virgin," was rendered late yes.
terday.
When the hearing was first started,
Police Lieut.. Albert Duffy, who had
been ordered to view the production.
took the stand and explained i'm detail
parts in the play as he saw them.
He complained strenuously about
the scene known as stripping Cupid,
which Is a card game similar to the
game known as stripped poker" In
this scene. according to the police OF.
ficer, one OF the performers takes of
everything but two moles and two
treckles."
Another witness Directing to the
play was Mrs. Herbert ]. Glover, wife
OF Rev. Glover. representing the So
ciety OF Better Public Plays.
In presenting the defense, Max ID.
Stuer told Magistrate McAdoo that
thousands of people are attending the
play nightly and entering no com.
plants. Mr.. Woods told the court
that there had been several changes
In the play since 1t was first produced.
He said that the manuscript OF the
play has been changed at certain
stages when complaints were made.
and declared that the copy which was
sent TO Magistrate McAdoo when the
complaint was made to him was an
old manuscript lacking the latter
notifications.
Courts Indictment.
Magistrate McAdoo's decision is as
follows:
The evidence produced. which in.
cludes a copy of the book and the play,
and the testimony of the witnesses
who saw the performance. convinces
me that this play Is deliberately,
rainstakingly, and for the purpose Of
gain, coarsely indecent, flagrantly and
suggestively immoral, impure in mo-
tive, word and action. lauded with
profanity, repellantly vulgar and in
every respect extensively illegal under
the statute governing such matters.
1T Is my duty under the law as laid
down by the highest court Of this
State to judge this play as 1t would
appeal to the intelligence of ordinary
men and women. and not experts or
those connected in any wise with the
atr1cal productions.
Built for Profit.
This play is an intentional appeal
for the profit to the box office, to the
lustful and licentious, to the morbidly
erotic, to the vulgar and disorderly
minds.
1t is an outrage upon the decent
management OF theaters, producing
many excellent plays and comedies
therein; an insult to the theatrical pro-
fession. whose talents are prostituted
presumably under compulsion, to en-
act parts against their own sense of
decency, and professional pride must
revolt. Such plays as this and indie
cent exhibitions In general will grow
more prevalent and audacious in this
city unless the law which covers su, n
cases Is seriously enforced. and on
conviction of the sentence an adequate
punishment melted out by the court.
AS to how the machinery necessary
for an effective enforcement of the
law Is to be had is a matter not neces.
sary to discuss in this connection.
Defendant is held for trial in the
court of special sessions In the sum
of 81 900 hail"