The New York herald., 1921-12-10
DEMAND that HYLAN
PROBE BREAKING UP
OF SANGER MEETING
Prominent Citizens Ask In
quiry Into Birth Control
Assemblage Arrests.
FREE SPEECH MENACED'
Conspiracy by Police to Sub
vert Rights of Citizens
Is Seen.
'0UTRAGES' DENOUNCED
Appeal Signed by Persons Not
Actively Identified With
Movement.
'OUTRAGES' DENOUNCED

A letter signed by Paul ID. Cravath,
Henry Morgenthau, Herbert L. Sat
terlee, Lewis l.. Delafield, Charles C.
Birmingham, Samuel II. Ordway, Pierre
Jay, Paul NJ. Warburg, Charles Strauss
and Montgomery Hare was sent to
Mayor John F. Hylan yesterday de-
manding an immediate and public in
vestigation of the action of the Police
Department in breaking up a birth
control meeting in the Town Hall on
November 13, and in arresting Mrs.
Juliet Barrett Rublee on December 3
The letter declares that the action of
the police constitutes such a wilful
violation Of the right of free speech
az to cause grave alarm to the people
of New York. 1t follows:
"The undersigned, none of whom have
taken part in the advocacy Of birth con-
troll. call your attention to the grave and
flagrant interference with the right OF
free speech which has recently been prac-
tised by the Police Department OF this
city and respectfully ask for public
investigation Of the causes of this inter-
ference. to the end that the right Of free
speech may be safeguarded.
Action Not Justified.
You are doubtless already acquainted
with the fact that on the evening of No
vember 13 the police OF the Twenty
sixth precinct, acting, we understand,
under the direct command of Capt.
Thomas Donohue. forcibly closed pub
lie meeting which had gathered at the
Town Hall. 121 West Forty-third street,
Borough OF Manhattan. for an oral dis
cusion Of question OF public policy and
morals. We are advised that without
any warrant or legal authority Justify
ing his action. Capt. Donohue arrested
two ladies, and In spite Of their protests
caused them to be taken to the police
station and thence to the Magist-ates
Court, where they were promptly dis
charged.
"A second offence was OF an ever
more flagrant nature II occurred on
December. 2. in the unjustifiable and in
excusable arrest of Mrs Juliet Barrett
Rublee After having testified as a
witness in an inquiry before Chief In
spector Lahey into the action Of the
Police Department in connection with
the Town Hall meeting OF November Ii
Mrs. Rublee was arrested by Patrolman
Thomas j. Murphy by the direction. we
are informed, of Assistant Corporation
Counsel Martin Dolphin. who was pres
ent as Inspector Lahey's adviser. The
arrest of Mrs. Rublee was so completely
without justification or excuse that the
Assistant District Attorney acknowl-
edged in open court that there was no
evidence to support a charge OF any kind
and Magistrate Hating promptly re-
leased Mrs. Rublee.
Grave Alarm Occasloncd.
.The action of the Police Department
above referred to constitutes such will
full violation of the right OF free speech
as to cause grave alarm to the citizens
OF New York. who have a right to know
why such outrages have taken place.
what influences and motives are behind
them and whether any conspiracy exists
in the Police Department to deny the
right of free speech ana :he equal pro-
lection OF the law to citizens OF New
York. This is obviously q matter OF the
1--WE therefore join in asking full
immediate and public investigation oi
the action of the Police Department in
the premises, to be followe ed. il the evil
dence warrants, by such disciplinary
measures against the officials found tc
be guilty as will discourage similar Of
fences hereafter"
Mrs. Margaret Sanger who was promi.
nent in arranging the Town Hall meet
ing. made this comment last night wher
told Of the letter:
our main desire Is 20 establish oui
rights for the future. including the right
to conduct clean. orderly and peaceful
discussions of the wisdom and morality
OF conscious regulation OF parenthood
We also intend TO discuss In a proper
and lawful manner the policy Of our ex-
isting legislation and TO present argu-
ments in favor of such an amendment
as will permit the giving OF birth con.
troll information through responsible,
channels. The courts have declared
such discussions 20 be within our rights
as l am advised. but the police seem tc
consider themselves above the courts
We are not the least bit intimidated
however. and II battle is necessary tc
maintain our position we accept tn,
challenge"