"ADVENTURES OF JOHN JOHNS."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 8

"ADVENTURES OF JOHN JOHNS."

WERE THEY INDECENT? ' Mary Knox was charged witk'selling an indecent book, "-The Adventures of John Johns." Accused pleaded not guilty, and Mr Cassidy conducted her defence. detective Gibson gave evidence as to having bought the book on February 11. He had read the book, and, in his opinion, it was indecent. To Mr Cassidy: Defendant was the wife of the proprietor of the shop. The book had been taken out of the window, but Mrs Knox had said.that she hadn't got a copy, until she was told that there was one in the window. NOT OFFENSIVE TO MOEALS. Mr Cassidy submitted that the information was wrongly conceived. " The publication did not come within the ; Indecent Publications Act. In 1908 a somewhat similar case had come up in connection with the books of Victoria Cross. The Act had been altered since then, and the definition of an indecent document could not cover this book, "John Johns." The manner in which the book was sold must also be considered. It was sold openly, and not kept hidden away. MUST BE PROVED INDECENT. The first thing to be proved was that the book was indecent. Individual views must differ, and it must be decided whether the book-offends against the morals of the community. Times had changed, and books were now sold which would have been conveyed to the kitchen fire with a pair of tongs by our grandparents. Mr Cassidy stated that he had great trouble in getting his copy for reference. Everyone seemed to think that he was a detective. The book was an impossible one, written round an infpossible character—a journalist without morals. There was no direct indecent statement in it. There was not an indecent, word. ' 1 Times have changed somewhat since Andrew Lang published his version- of the Arabian Nights with the assurance that he had removed only those portions suitable for old gentlemen and Arabs.'" This book was the story of a moral outlaw, and a book was not necessarily a bad book because it dealt with bad people. Taking the whole circumstances of sale into consideration, the defendant had done nothing to offend the moral sense" of the community. There was no particular extract which could be taken out and made the subject of the Police Offences Act. It was published. by a .well-known firm in 1897, and since then had gone through .14 editions. BOOMING THE BOOK. This present prosecution would cause a boom in the book similar to that which occurred when the books- of Victoria Cross were before the Court. These were afterwards sold for 7/6 a copy. "You get me one then," said Detective Bishop. "One man retired and went to Germany on the proceeds of the sale,'' said Mr Cassidy. "That was the result of the last brilliant prosecution brought ill Christchurch. ,J Mary Knox gave evidence as to the sale of the book. Chief-Detective Bishop suggested*, that it was ant's (luty to read through the books she sold to safeguard herself. "I can't read them all,'' she replied. "I read the new novels which come in." <' Look at that cover, >' said tue ChiefDetective. "Didn't that convey anything to you?" "I think it's a very charming lady," said Mr Cassidy. "You will see worse than that in Cathedral Square any day." His Worship intimated that he would reserve his decision.