Opinion ID: 2017210
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trials

Text: At the trial of defendant Hoyt, an officer of the St. Paul Police Department testified that on August 31, 1967, he entered a bookstore at 480 Wabasha Street and purchased from defendant three paperback books for $2.50 each, entitled Adam and Eve, Business as Usual, and The Way of a Maid. A sergeant in the vice unit was asked if he had an opinion as to whether or not the books were obscene. Defendant objected on the ground there was no proper foundation. He was overruled. The officer thereupon testified that in his opinion the books were obscene. The state rested and defendant moved for dismissal on the ground no prima facie case had been presented. The motion was denied and defendant rested. In the prosecution of defendant Lee, a member of the vice unit of the St. Paul Police Department testified that on January 8, 1968, at 480 Wabasha Street, he purchased from defendant two books for which he paid $2.50 and $3, entitled Lady Susan's Cruel Lover and True Love Stories of Growing Up. Because the officer had read only portions of the books, objection was sustained to his testifying as to whether or not in his opinion they were obscene. Thereupon, the state rested without further testimony. Defendant Lee moved for dismissal on the ground the state had failed to prove a case. The motion was denied. As part of defendant's case, counsel attempted to show contemporary community standards by reference to other books purchased in a number of well-known bookstores in the same metropolitan area at about the same time. He offered in evidence Fanny Hill and books entitled My Secret Life, Crazy Wild, and Busy Bodies. Objection by the state was sustained. Defendant then rested.