"TRUTH'S" TROUBLES.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 4

"TRUTH'S" TROUBLES.

search; after - vi'" THe SiiiaH tooth'^omb Applied. A. Salesaian :CoHvifted..vatid ■Qfrdered .. to. iCoine. Uj)** for Seclence When. > '-;' .■ ; caiiea i4o!u\>;" : Al ;;;.'" ..... -: .;""■: - ..'.* .. . "' "' .. Tljft hearing cm"' ' the chargfe* against S-iim. Employee ol this pap'er y "ffor having s.O-id a -copy of New Zealand jVTt nth',*' * of .'August IS, "coirt^ihfiig a set of verses entitled" "'Hymns up tb Date.'' "Hushed was- the- Evening Hymn/" which, was a'lleged'td be of" anjr'ihdeop'nt 'and- immoral ■nat'are^-,'" wa-s heard before Dr. Mc-ABfhuii;- S.ftfc, at the Magistrate's' 7>€bu'rt ' 'on? Monday ■l*st* — - ' . - y'* -— ' :■■" ""Mr i\i. Myers prosecuted A fof th* Crpwnan*! Mr A; Dunn represented the defendant, who elected to bfe snnrnjanjy dealt with- and7?Tpieaded*--not guilt'v.- '-. • ,'-,- • ■ -. " •'•: "Mr jMyenf, m opening thfc -cdse - for _\f_^_ thatcid^e .-fKip-er was ' sold" to a constable of police who had been sent /to. the pfl_ice'"to: purchase ity . "The • de-fertcl-ylt*' wa.s Ot\ elerly 'cmpioyod- p'y -..the '_j>f bpfifrto'r 6t . ,^%ptl_^' ift v\vas, itfijfr necessary -tDread out the af ticl-e.f -''a -copy <^f •which would -be puij m a#d l*is ,-WoV ship' wdiild he "able 'to -see Hhe -nature oi" it . and itiidf rstarjd what, , it pur- : pb-Hed'-'td -describe. ' Tlwfr prosecution ' contended iMtv ;tTie 'a'ft-icle hpyoHtl •' Wheat ion -..a' violation"* "of-^.he iJSWtute, more sS' pei-h'&pjS - because. «*& . appeared 'm l a newspaper -w^ucft was ! sold to aVivbody 'pr'epa-fed "to ' pa^ three^eHce:."' I "'.' -* V.;- -oul-. ' Myers; - then .ealle-d : "Constable Ta-cy ''"ftu-frolph *T&y lorI or , r - \f>y deposed - that, acting- under instriieti.ons*-'"ir6m ■ his officer,. &.\ffent^:-.'t'he, "Trifth"'" office* "for"- this." puJppsc '.' v ql - ; jjurchasinlg cop"? of ' that, ijapen .' hie ■ "y^n't "th^.re"cA 'j^o qccasiftns-"* ' aijjd .- friyrchasett-'" a copy".,' 'Truth of Aug-' ifcjli 18,' The '''/deiejWMt'-' sold it to-ifrm.'.-'Oii 'eich.oc'car'sioiirlp pai-d 'three--perice for- > ' , p'ap^r. t . ,The patjef .'.pi-cir'i duced r was"''q.iie 'ift tlicfte^'he 'pfffchasM! •_'- .' My Myc.rs'T Tbe .ikhicl&cQ'mi^aineil (il 'is oil. page.3/ _,y *' "*"* ' :.„',', '' a ■' .Mr' Dunn .: 'Hayq^you i;ead the r4i pap.-v ;i r : yousel'f ?— Witness v : Yes. w '' 'i D& you. see ; o-jiy thing im ni oral m |it ?-I-do. * ' .. ' Where : about!S.?^l.ft- the la^i verse. In ;the l^sty'verse,?— in lact, all of* '<-' -... ,'... '■'.'/" _' : 1 . Mr _ Myers o^ject-e-^ to tlie mode of ([ue'stiqhin^ as if y/ks ior' tjie Court; to 'deefde 'whether' the: "article ''was iirimor'Alor not. O^.wjiat. value was the'oiHnion "of "a comm'6n cdnst-able. This closed thc case for the prose- 1 cufcion. Mr Dunn said' hc' s ,submi't?tea twp.defchees. 'The /frs.t n Tyas tha"t the .article w„S 'hot indecent' 'rfr' immoral, and the Cftui't was bound to be guided "by what Mr Justice Williams had said m ''tlie ca& : agalftst* lswal*t- '* Thatjiidsje had said "t_at tlver6 w : as absolutely no dbfniition" in' the Law books of what an indecent publication consisted. ' It w-as a question for the jury itself" to -decide, and iii" 'tiffs matter; his -Worship wis sitting m the' capacity or" a jury ' arid ft " was therefore a question for his "Wets-hip to deefde' whether 'the article co.hrplayied .of was .indecent and imnjbr'al. To decide^ thi-s theyb^s'tj'test'-to'a^lxly was whether - -> - „iatr: iii wtitin^rn^nch an\-ar t^b ;obvi oosiy' intended 'to ei.---cit-e immoral thoughts.* If it did then it might _be terme-d an indecent publication ; but he subm;itte<l the article could be read Without immoral feelings l^ftr^ ' -fexe^S* ft-r immoral thoughts . bein"- created. He had tried to trace the . .original publication of the articlß m rjil'e'i^oA. It had appeared m Australi-an papers goid afid "had" 'been cop ieir f into "t*fie T local paper:/.'*fevidcntly the verses had hoeh written' "m England and thQ poetry probably originated m Ireland.' ''' ' DrT'Mc'Ai'thur-':'' Aho tMf' injustice to Ireland. (Lau^lteY.V " " "■ Mr D*unn':tlieH"refer;ftd' U thc line '•He- wKs- "art Ora'fl^mtfgf- you 'see. ft The-artieie was"a'*skit5 0 n s sorSe feli'git)fts:bd(ly -in 'Irelfinti where llii mifefl eholirs wefe cft'iJtincitf frdTrt''the"'ehofT^ of-'tiie brbiiod'ox tchurch"^ which -^er-e com-posetr of- men' ahd l fcoy&. ' "T;tS pn"ir/afv object-was hot' --t'& exfHte' aft immoraWeelinp;,". but" W rfdictikv some religions body*; r it diS' shov/ - fe^ligio^s a-nimosj-iy^ ; 'buf it was net punishable under 4he Statute t-ort the account. 'In rip way wan.-Mvs pirblicatton obscene". the.i-c was not ,- even, ".an ' ;indelicate word inyitvan'd i-f properly looked 'at it would be sqen that it was' really a- moral-;. st or __■ His Worship .coulil reaji through- the yers^s and he would find --not -one -.in-ctecent • wbtd. The merit of -the- thins,- was that it dealt with a- -del|ccate subjec%; without, goiiis,. into details. (^.s. aaPerus'al of-'the fourth : verse wo'uld^- -serve yt'o r s-bow'. A- ■ fair test/ to -^niake' whether the matter ,was 4 inrmoral or not, was to- l^ake 4he ■ case --of. some 1 innocent lady or gtrl; who read it.- -Asgmuing that^Jiev were-ig^rar^t^pf-knowjedge' ot seliiial v matters", 'they Coulclj read it. through- and jnot a -word in'i>would enlighten them on *such- a That Jie considered a fair-tesl. A^ai-n-, if.r- properly >loqke(l- at' there was a moralj-iu the- story!" It-^sho-wed-t^e in^' evitab*le punishment • that. \ followed 'wron-v-doing.' The seducer was held lip .to ridicule and contempts People could not. te taught to be moral unless f hey "were tati'ght t'he consequences t^at> - followed- • on -immoral conduct-, and" any ordinary innocent^ pergpn who, reading, saw' tlie consequences that follow -on sin and vice, would be deterred. In fact, tho -verses }m question-" although' • called a hymn, were more m the nature of a sermon-. i In defending verses of this nature it was. , quite unnecessary to refer ..to- the works of poets dealing w-itii indelicate' siihie'cts, for. -the simple reason, -that these ..verses. ,clFd ..not contain, one^indelicvate. -word. It would be a-Übel -on the writer,, .ot these verses : m .".Triith" "to -eopipare T\ts ;W.bv_K to j seoresy-of .iiassagesHhat^cculd.beflndt' Icd from English - standard . writers like I tibiiucei;, ■Seencer, Dryflon, Byron., illu'nr«, etc •■•' In wxitgrs..o; our., own |tiiws,-in thq works i'o£ the Rev. ; GeoL j Criibbe, .^ wpre^.sl^brt .^poi?^. dea,^pg i with tlie- fi-xoral« t .--byhLs^ p<vfish|.on^ |. ; V} ; any»f-'hißj-^^£ p_-pw»s ,iiei^'«prepiser j!y v- s*i»Ala*' -v.-^to .' the ;-. „);svmk'-a.,ih r'^__»«th" r ,«nd ; .(IsaW.^ v."!'* .tjie^kaii^ |_ihome. Yet 'if was. .. vUQ.vgr .vo_\v- , l ended I.!4aLJiifti;„^l!^M^tui\_i ' ba-t imuial^ Most of the poetryror novels ' ■ tr' ' - -i* '0- ■il.r-'-' ' '.#.-.■ '•" ■•'-'• ,

written referred to the relation of the sexes, which was always the theme of poets, -Tmd**TT sJtl'Cß' \vlts^ __tf&tidfiabTe" and poets?' w"ere' -deprived ■6T>' 1 such a theme what woMld v -becorfto of them ?• . D/. MCArihur : You m^any to (sa^ their' Iniftmes.s' wOuldMie"%o-riey>*- ; -• Mr Dnnii: Yes, they would have to efc£ cull's of .business' altrrgettherr Continuing hrs-argnmen't; 'Mr 'Dunn said that m evtfry, hovel there was a moral.- .Gleoj-ge Elliott ,-wa^ia moral wTitel'f- -Adam ' Be.de ' : seduced, a 'girl and the storyj„show.ed th£ ' sequel. 'Of Course .m ' a thfee'-voli^uie' "navel the morar ;r or immoral" tlieme w.as.ndt al-* ways patent*,' but "its. ffeunework; w(t§ ther? all thd. sanie. . The v chs.e" iotLthfe Crown waß' that - ybn ."miist draw' an absolute' \*il over. the ■ story. ' 'That was not alw>ays r^hißi'ed ! in v literature and hb leairne'uV, friend seemed to overlook that fact'l ••.""' " ' '"■■ ."'"*'.'. * Mr-' Myers Y:t am here tb prb'seGu'te only'; the authorities say it "is. ah'im- . «fl_ , eraltar*iCle-y>-"--I.niiU<js iiov.sdcli" h-vef-mcnt ; I leave that to those who 'lhstruct meS" '■' '-•_ ' >■_ " ' .'. Mr 'Dunn:-. It:-. : f ejects' on -church <Jli'6ii'S. -. ; 'A* reflection, too, npt'-jvithr 1 outv'.justificationic 'There?^was^ no slaiv der m thbsar.ticle, ansl he .would again point 'ohtiu-t : tlitjj. nQ#" cc-ciam a - single . bbiectiofiable word.' The ,6bject vwaS, n_*i' "to i'eipiairf oi excite! prurient 'finely ; ings -v-'tsdfll'y ' showed t- the ■ -pu'nisiiiheht , of 'sin. ..'Sam&^earisoiigo' a - rtmr* isaMs ' , prosecuted'' iff London for. selling 'the. • Decameron ■ of* Bfjccsei oif This - waS a pro^dcafcfve '-work '"'pure " &nd 'S&niple!, &h# lyet "J the' ' magistrate that presided i 'retjus'ed '' tb' cortrifiit '"■'' Mih ' dn '" the f ground ■' that >. tlie" f\ihli'catibn'o o f >''such. \vas" "perttiissible. . Thtfre was ! ~a" big question involved" hi . tfrfs'-ci'se, afid'he'co'nsTd&Tetf 'thCtr.ag- . istratc VcArfd ' be' rhistfltefl irl' TßrmiTtife ! tharthV "f)ublid , ation""of . thr'hiutte™ option 'w_S ; p p el ; 'mtesiblet He did 'nst ; suppose'"" that "'ahy 'm'&'ri* *"*_#• *'wdih"a"n< ydv d r *«l>e~'':sho"cl:"_:d « "hp 'h^a-oTn'jf "ft . ' SPf^-^heiV^V'as'^ii?? qticstiom' ' ivhetfler ' ■ children "sffioiiWreSG 'Suclf ; Ihiht£; =*?& . fhe'"ofit3" r b6mplaiitd tsfy'Ther-?-;was ' -oHt' 4cho6't? , rti 's^iety'' i\Mch'*:h'eW :4 that ' ■ tMldi'eh shoiiftl 'W'hfouKhtfauii'Jrri" to*-. ; t-S'f i'gncrafibe"" dra'Tfy thittS' r&rfcaTni'ffg ; ' tb^^uar-'mattei's.' 'Tirey" "heW'that ' ftoiimn' slifruld 'hot be rMtgh'f'' sJlidh! : ftlattefs'ahd snouhl" be" lefrttyTmcrduV ■ tor •'■ , the'i^'elt'e.^^''lf*»ignor^' f imy) • woutfl'hot '^hifn^go' wrong7 T It f fiiigHt ' TuSt a's"'well. ; "6e" JSrguecr (half 4 iT^-rneTft were" "not;' 'taught han'd-w'rTtihs^ there • v/m<f W "tfb^suW ffi^^rfe'rgffM oh "the ■■" o'thetf baftd r the -'other school : s'a'i'fl' we ough*t t'o''instruct' > 'Ch'iTdre'n, ; as innocence was not • f bunded "on dPnt*"^ anceV ''The'-'tSrowVw^'only (*ndeavorih* to "'ask'-'the GJoifrt "trj' _ roi'c.e 'the opinioh"*df ' one " class- off 'tWer -fe'ther"'. . Sitrely tlfer-was' Xv'fbng: 1 .. Tha^pufi'ty of'*^hiTdren was 6ne- '* tWngr'lt f'w-as for' the' ' lidirents'" ol*' chlTdren ' \<b* supeV»vlsfi Affia't' tliey fe'ad'-v Tt""was" nbt v '"'in i-i/he interests 3'oTlhe gefieral'piiblife'that th# : ai<£ >of the -^C'ri'mihai LUw ! he/ iirt'ok&dri'to" dflitate': w"li'at> KiibVlletlge Ghil^'reft' shbuld"li'avgy" i .This , 'wa^ jno'l/'a c'buft ""of ltiorlilit'y ; i'f'wia.s a" coufe !%f c-l'^V ;" V?l>Qt"' -•wttetf """ it came tot dealing \vitfi'''the"qii'eStion br moral's "it- W§"i*cfeSSfe_fy""Cb'"t'a-Ke great 'care.' "' He v thWght" thaT?"the Idourt-^shcwld lean 4 tbFe'ration m all questions of morality There'w'as "largr.eat deal tor* "hie sa'i'd'on both sides' of the questiolV, biitf't'o the pure all. things were" p'ure"< and people dichnot always u „gree-t'bn"the uhes'tfoh bf''.moralftyvi-le-'in&tan>sed' the recSiit agitation 'for thi* prosecution of postr cfrd' sellers'. Wfiaf- dfd they fihdT"^ l&trSfHypisc'fisy'' 6n btie side. One-^e-cj_^on''"by "his- WWship^' y/as questibneu ni very*"" steng." t^rms. Wh^,t; wefe tfiTrigs' "coming to.^ ' ' jt 'was ''aske^'^ weeß br f ty/6 t^no had ;Been. M^e^ 'ln'^fiei^ycqiif dem_fta,trbn "'were prbsecuteil ;\tind ;';^c6nr viclt'ed^lbr'"mißlishri^ a ..post-car^., joif *rf inaeceW iS^ttre;. th^plj^s^. :__ ;%& verting to the que_?£ipn"ot*lipw''mucn A'n-dtt*fi^Kould.''j6ww^ i _iVi^'- :: ijyinn sai£ he ' would' tfke "to point ' out ; 'that' ip tfie EKigliSh .."■pi!'bli'c'"s.ch'dsls v and '\\hiVBr'sTtief c^ifdreh'^wfefe fiaii^lt th* wbrjag"'©! JuVenatf Lilciaii and '$.$ Atftiertibfl C"6me-3ies,*"_n'cr;,.i.v \yag .jp same " iir ${&&'•. Zefela-nfl'*' fie.' Jsts a.^ired" to polity but ?hit' tfcjv'-Oqertr SfVc^Pu'mi'Cations Att, 'of l^gO^ -^i-d M-tiSmake^-any J <6fT£nce. of a'nyth[pg that Avas . not an "ofrehce" before. It was always* aiT one'nee i to publish indecent li.ter^ , t.ure.v"'n , he^principal on which the Common Law Courts pro--9eedes m tl^es-e- cases was- .not- -t-hat t?i?yCoiir.t should . teach people niorah-'tyi-that., wis the .business ' -of -th,e CfH-urch'^hnt ' that" the . Court shou id pupiph breaches 'of "tlie-' legal fight^bf every man .ql a-verage-'sensihilitv'. not to" have' his niprai; .sens^ oiitrap-ed Could % jt. /they', lip -&iid .? that the poetry ,v in' „1)k- !i^.y\vr ' „i.n euestion outraged i\\'c r fce.t iii ;.,.-;' .of ; ,_ the average man.?.' .'A prdse-ciitio'ii of" this sort, if successful, would be extremely injurious^ to. the. paper ,* aftected, as it^ Vy<^il-dv.,.,rri'e.aii.;, that 1 ;'sbme' .. 4-^ents "tnigtit lie ,-weak Vno.ugh to ri^fiise. to sell ij r ;' ;A*nd he did' not iiien'tion thjs fact 4,-n .iustificati'on-,' "iJut . -tq , show the cppsetyences.y,-''- It ..' ivas,.-'*ditTei;ent'y.,tb Ewalrt's ;case: The paper was- a New Zealand, production. . The' proprlgtoidf the \>aper ;ke*t.'liij r ii'.self 'o.iH'.'td . re4liectVtlje deei^ion'in' Rivart's ' case and it' -.yas an enti-'eiy' 4)R^i'^t"''i*ii^l^tiou*'to" what -iii Was. then. Car.e, was always 1 taken to exclude anythingJxideQent a'l'id immoral aiid lie ilrged 'for tlie Magistrate's CQiisid.eratiqn ' that tne' article complained of <?id'n?t c\ r r Ceed legitintate boiinds' m any; iespef't; ifffitf ifof ex^fedHSfy 8T the' Works 'of Gra^be,- fdf instance. So much "for his first point. He proposed to put the defendant "into, the .box, and ( he would say that Imew'rfoihing-' -of the contents of the paper ; that he h(id po jea^qiiabie-OMort unity, of. agcertainj'ng its "contents."' 'He'" was '"a erer-l^'ih -^fl* bffi^e irttd^liad'yno^hing'lb do with the literary side, nor did he read the proofs, and therefore the Bench would have ',',ittte; difficulty .m holding that bis' lgnorance, w.a'si *exfcu^able, and that he had, no., opportunity of ascertaining the contents of; the ';i *"§!!£_ '.TJie jna,in defence, i however; 1 ' was that the article was ; uot indecent or immoral ; the secohil ! defence was only subsidiary.

The defendant' 'viheii, ' gave evidence and said that he kept the books and accounts iv .'i Truth 'i- offico arid hod - nothing to do with the literary work. IJp ,adni!^-?4., s ejlU. n S'.Jl)e : pfiper -tp.tjie constable. . , Did^f fftf- 1 lHifi^'ol3-tW*V''a.rtfbre4ZiHjL did not read it. Is it your practice to read fhfc j paper ?— Sometimes I read the spr"n> ; m»- nnge. s "' r*_ !" Poetry IS "not"' th" your" l'i'ii6 '.'—No. I In answer to Mr Myers tlTe defend-

ant said he was behind the counter ana sold the paper to anyone who camep Th. Hii klfcW/'WIU lajllW *W& whem he saw hitn'-tome wKh?" the d^teetive--* When he^J^J^JjHJJ^r wa_ Mr Myers^Tt flas-a ftfttnight af-«. ter the actual an-d you had. plenty of time to look - at it if you wanted to read ~it~?^_ suppose I had. • -ftftr Myers ♦"saj^h i^is -»uo doubt"'' uftdefstdotf vt)ps -' T t>c,-?_Hhßtrt -asked the Jqdestrbns-' h£ ; dia, seeing that :tji-e defence' askedmr^a dismissal^.if- IJis WbrshiT>*'' "believed*- -Ah'at '&.^efejidahfc dtflr , " , not :;lqiow r the V coni^-nts of thy paper' oHdid -Tiot -*haye".' a.xeasonj-. dole '""opf^otttrnffcy- of asciertaifrifog its cofltenHs* "Hqw v _ould -it be .said, - SlJough',-fthit v -jia rrran(,-3?ltflplqye^:in' the office, who had the paper hefofe/.h-ifn. ,foT a. fortftight, ' dj|tl not. hay.a. an.. opportunity' of.' ascertaining- jv.h^t. -4he [paper contained. -'In T*hvf>ri;.!.s;,'case t>is circufnstaiicfls were" 1 wore faviordbip-tp that' 'jdefendant,', because m that cask t"he"'' N def-e.h_ant was-' not employed- \\t the " "offree''' w'hece.theS ipapcr '* was pu o"----IfSh^d: 'l^Oh'.^he 'question -of whether-. th_ f_sisclßt-ivf_[s 'tin moral' dr'not'lie vraa not 'going''Hw : ti_»kc! J '\itT' ; the Htthfeof tfes cdnrt. "Mr^Cw'iirflfcfad .^said -|that .'ihe thl?srtfp'n'r.of .the^wr-iletv Veft-s et* he -tal-ienf-iin+d cfcfi^i'der^ionr-'f Jt, '.- how^ etfSr^'liaty been* held* (Hirfc-the.ijfvidence ■bf-itttent was^na^jfiifesableyahd Weihgi iifedn^?s„l7l-e -?*fc 'x-ii. M:riia-ve';^_rtlh .gM-o ■•m-mth' r --1^ matterr-Tltr wjis .yjtat'*fl tlßif lihere^mS*- iraft'ofayinifeeea* )&s&£ m tae>rtit:fcrlrtfe't!T£'>f/C6siG!!ti{_m -saSH ftJiftvas'it^'tlfe* Words 'ijec-esstfriiy us&T'. ■tvhatwthe _i2&mr would _ave-tf)* look at"'-iyas' , 'fi6t the*\7 r drds'; jiufr.WKavihß ■S?*rds' "mtSe'it'-t,' „ t he.'''s-h? r itfend*' nt cbnJrafiled. •*%£ ■^t'fle*?C'olflrt," J,^Ctet' Vft*Kh£ Op 'tS*' whffilC . 'tfrtjcie; ' ASme* '""te'H'he >M£n?tusidfr" tltsf tstt' fes mn . i-ml-ec.ewtt or iftintoTaF"' rtftcotrtstoVth.*!!' w*s tlie ' <akl st-''it.'J ; T!T<saCrb-vtiif sijbxiHtW fijat.* it cle"a.^lv \vsb 'iiTdeceTriraiidt'i'nimnfaiy foMr t©u#6V '■3ft'' renfr'n'^r ;ii o.By cl Jfsrgal authorities tb^^dfß^-hntvinfe^die^, tnajintsfrt. Os, $h*' wii" t'«- of -theVrtitW wfis -y wav* nT9.tei}fnl7-^**' >. *■»'»• ;••;>•■ - -"■Bir"-3^e!Wt'lji'" i 'M's?e:i:-»ed '\>i# de&ision tin th*?* f^Mv/hTg -wrtfl^y. • -.■*!... .-. < ; •■•'«■•' '-•■-,>'.'if-T_|ie-Ds€*-4io.n* ' ... „,'. - fl-l*tttfl"h^a!K'# fk-t-^^ S.M-, gave his decision r ? )Vcl r said „ J ie h&d 'against iMv-pmni onutbe.', two *bfnts^rhTse.g* . "Kie «^agis^at?-,f aid . lte" ,: wPh)d tdbn'-yi.qt *>_$.$ and 6*d£t<_-tl „tth to^-pay the' casts, £a* i'«s, ahd r,, *t(y^. come' up.) f^W-sen-Vaice-.?-; when ■bdlf-e-a'-ofl.'-'" '""t> VW-v* ■.■. T !»'.-^ ai':' "-•-- ' r?_. i j:-j^--^^rr-y?.aGs. -:-^