Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-05
131 Dealers Are Arrested in
Drive Planned by Rover
Against Trio.
FATE OF 1925 RESTS
ON TRIAL OUTCOME
Seized Vendors Are Charged With
Offering Indecent Publications
for Sale'-Bonds $25.

Test cases to determine the legality
OF the sale in Washington of three COM
paratively new magazines, whose con-
tents are alleged to be indecent, are
planned by United States Attorney Leo
A. Rover. as a result of special cru
sade against the publications which al
ready has resulted in the arrest OF l3l
dealers.
Six of those arrested, pleaded not
guilty and demanded jury trials, upon
arraignment this morning in Police
Court. The cases were set for trial
Tuesday The other dealers arrested
were released until further notice from
the court The status of their cases
will depend upon the outcome Of the
test cases.
The unsuspecting dealers were
rounded up last night in concerted
city-wide campaign, conducted by 30
picked policemen who acted under or
ders of Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glass
ford, superintendent of police. The
order was issued at the instance of
United States Attorney Rover.
Freed on SIS Bond.
Dealers in newspapers and magazines
were not the lone victims of the drive.
Police also arrested proprietors of drug
stores, pool rooms, delicateSSen stores
and other places where the magazines
we're sold, charging each of them with
Offering indecent publications for
sale" All were released on S25 COL
lateral.
Plans for the campaign were made
at a conference late yesterday between
Mr.. Rover and Inspector James F.
Beckett of the Police Department. I'm
mediately after the session, Inspector
Beckett returned to police headquar-
tiers. informed Gen GlaSsford of the deS
sire of the United States attorney to
stop the sale of the three publications,
and he sent out an order for arrest Of
the dealers
Virtually all of the arrests were made
between 6 pm. and midnight. In each
place visited by police officers the ques-
tionable publications were seized.
Mr.. Rover indicated today that ne Is
determined to stop the sale OF the three
magazines or any others that contain
indecent material, and that all SupSe-
ouent issues would be thoroughly scan
ned. His action in the future, however,
he said. would be governed by the re-
suit of the test cases.
Held Conviction Impossible.
Mr.. Rover told newspaper men last
Saturday that he and Assistant United
States Attorney McInerney had read the
three publications, and while he dld
not personally approve OF some OF the
reading matter he did not mteno 10
order any arrests unless future issues
contained more Objectionable material
At that time he expressed the opinion
1t would not be possible to secure con-
vfction in the event of an arrest and
trial.
However. Mr.. Rover said he re-read
each of the three magazines more
thoroughly Sunday and decided the
contents were indecent and that ar
rests should be made under a section
of the District code which forblds the
sale of obscene reading matter and pic
lures in magazines. The penalty on
conviction carries a fine ranging from
$50 to $500.
simultaneously with the opening Of
Mr.. Rover's crusade against the three
publications. word came from New
York that the Citizens Committee for
Civic Decency there had undertaken
far-reaching campaign to arouse pub
lie opinion in favor Of suppression OF
obscene magazines.
New York Main Source.
The Civic DeCency Committee helo
that the crux of the situation Is in
New York City, since it is the general
publishing center for the entire coun-
try and the source of 80 per cent OF
THE impure" literature in circulation.
Action of New York, it declared, has,
therefore, not merely local but ma
tional results.
Informations filed against each OF
the six dealers in Police Court charged
that they offered for sale publications
containing obscene pictures and pic
lures of men and women in leWd and
indecent postures and positions"
Attorneys for the dealers announced
in court their intention of filing -otions
attacking the legality of the intorma-
tons. Arguments will be heard Satlr-
day by Judge Gus A. Schuldt.
The special investigation squad at
police headquarters, under Injector
Beckett, made 20 arrests in the Crive,
the largest number of any precinct
SQUAD. Sixteen were arrested in the
first precinct, % in the second precinct,
10 in the third precinct l6 in the fourth
precinct, ! in the fifth precinct, IA in
the sixth precinct, in the eighth pre-
cinct, u in the ninth precinct, IN the
tenth and in the eleventh