SEIZED PICTURES

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 5

SEIZED PICTURES

COURT SEQUEL TO GALLERY RAID The seizure by the police of fifteen paintings and water-colours by Mr D. H. Lawrence tne well-known novelist, which were being exhibited at the Warren Galleries in*London, lias had a sequel at Marlborough Street Police Court. Mr and Mrs Philip Trotter were summoned to show cause why the picture and four books, containing reproductions of them should not be destroyed or further dealt with according to law After a long hearing Mr Mead adjourned the summons sine die on the undertaking of Ur and Mrs Trotter not to exhibit the pictures and to return those purchased to the purchasers and the others to Mr Lawrence. The books were ordered to be destroyed. Mr H. Muskett. prosecuting, said the magistrate had to determine whether the pictures and the books containing the teproductions were obscene within the meaning of the Act of 1857. Counsel added that the proceedings were initiated in the interests of public morality. Inspector Hester, who executed the warrant, chose thirteen pictures from the twenty-five on view, while, in addition, he found four books with reproductions 01 all the pictures. Mr Muskett related how Inspector Hester also found another book, ‘ Ecce Homo,’ by George Grosz, of which he said he thought there could be no question that it was grossly obscene from its very nature. ‘1 submit," added counsel, “that these paintings are gross coarse, hideous, and unlovely from any aesthetic °F . ar tistic point of. view, and are in their nature obscene.