Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-12
VENDORS OF LEWD
PICTURES WARNED
BY MAI. GORDON
Newsstands Must Remain
Clear of Obscene PubIica-
tions, Prosecutor Says.

Following the first conviction in Po-
lice Court yesterday against distribu.
tors of salacious literature, Maj. Pey-
ton Gordon served notice today on
news vendors and those suspected of
'bootlegging' obscene pictures that
the district attorneys office, in co.
operation with the Police Depart
ment, will promptly bring to trial any
person charged with this offense
Despite the fact that Maj. Gordon
believes the conviction of William
H. Smith of the Capitol News Co.
will serve to curb the distribution of
this form of indecent publication as
surances were given the public that
any charges brought to the attention
of the district attorney or the police
would be vigorously pressed. Maxi
mum penalties, it was said would be
demanded in each case resulting in
conviction.
Police to Cooperate.
Mai. Edwin B. Hesse, superin-
tendent of police, assured The Eve
ming Star today that the Police De
partment would cooperate in every
way possible in it's campaign to rid
the newsta nds and the city of these
vendors of filthy literature. Instruc-
tions previously given the various
police precincts to be on the lookout
for such magazines and pictures are
still in force, he said, and there
would be no relaxation in the efforts
of the police. Patrolmen of the va
rious precincts would be instructed
anew to visit newsstands regularly,
Mai. Hesse said.
While the district attorneys office
believes most of this form of litera-
ture has been taken off the news
stands of the city, a number of clergy
men informed The Evening Star to-
day they had reason to believe that
some Of the worst were gradually
drifting back to the stands.
To Be Kept OF Stands.
Mai. Gordon said today that while
Smiths case was the only one of this
kind pending, the district attorney s
office would continue its cooperation
with the police and The Star to rid
the stands of this form of literature.
Il believe the rawest magazines have
been taken off the stands" he said,
but the purpose of the law is to keep
. tneIn. blI On IlS poLiNC
a sharp lookout, and l don't believe
many stands are selling any of the
worst kind now. But we will act
promptly on any evidence placed be-
fore us"
| Mai. Hesse said that personally he
was very interested in seeing that the
law against lewd magazines and pic
lures is being carried out, and served
notice that if any are being sold open
ly he would soon find out about 1t.
Decentralization of Youth.
In the opinion of Washington
clergymen who today viewed the first
! conviction as of utmost significance
/ in the campaign, the worst danger in
/ circulating these art magazines and
| pictures lies in their decentralization
of youth.
| THE conviction in our courts yes
/ terday against handling and selling
, filthy magazines ought to cause uni
i versal rejoicing among the citizens OF
! Washington" said the Rev. p. c.
| Gavan, rector of the Shrine of the
| Sacred Heart. There are tempta.
| tions enough surrounding our young
people in these free-and-easy days OF
! petting and scarcity of attire, but the
| filthy picture is about the worst.
1T acts like the most subtle and
| insidious poison. scorching the soul
arousing the animal spark of the be
! holder to the worst &gree. 1t is al
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