Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Johnson Williams, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1962-07-13
Citations: 17 A.D.2d 678
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Johnson Williams, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 678–678

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Johnson Williams, Appellant.

Opinion:
Charged in an indictment that he possessed with intent to sell allegedly obscene magazines in violation of section 1141 of the Penal Law defendant was found guilty by a jury in the County Court of Schenectady County of 11 of its counts, 1 of which was dismissed by the court after the trial. The test of obscenity under the statute is whether, taken as a whole, the dominant theme of the material alleged to be violative is so entirely lewd and lascivious as to constitute "hard-core pornography". (People v. Richmond County News, 9 N Y 2d 578.) Applying this standard to the exhibits upon which the convictions were based we find them not to fall sufficiently within the proscribed area as to establish defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (People v. Richmond County News, supra; Roth v. United States, 354 U. S. 476; People v. Urban, 15 A D 2d 480.) Judgment of conviction reversed on the law and the facts and the indictment dismissed. Bergan, P. J., Gibson, Herlihy, Reynolds and Taylor, JJ., concur.