ALLEGED INDECENT PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 233, 26 June 1919, Page 8

ALLEGED INDECENT PICTURE

CHARGE AGAINST THEATRE MANAGER

CARDS DISPLAYED IN A PASSAGEWAY

By Telegraph— Vtesti Association.

Auckland, June 25. When the picture entitled '"Queen of the. Sea," in which Annette Kellermau . takes the principal part, was being exhibited in May last a card depicting a. scene from the film, showing a r umber of girls scantily clad, representing sirens on the seashore, was displayed in ■_ n passageway of the theatre for advertising purposes. In consequence the ninnwx of the theatre, Bobert Louis Acland, was charged before Mr. J. b. Wilson, S.M., at the Police Court with hiivlnz publicly exhibited «m inde.'ent photogravure in a public place. Sub-Inspector Wohlmann said that on llav tr> he saw three copies of the Cet'd m 'a passage leading into the theatre. Some people, from youths o middle niw wore looking at them, lie told the defendant objection had been taken to the picture.. Witness said ho would like ii copv, bu,t the defendant replied that thev 'were not h* property, and be not part with them without instructions. He said the cards represented ii portion of a. scene that had been cut out of the film by the censor. flefentlunt said he did not think there was nnvthinu objectionable in the cards, or ho' would not have exposed them to public view. The run of the him at the theatre had just, expired, and it was going to Napier. Defendant said lie vrpud undertake that the portion ob]e:tcd_ to would not be exhibited again. S-ext morning the defendant handed a constable one of the cards. Mr. Skelton contended that fte passageway was not a public place iind that the scene on the card was Mt indecent. The card was u, .representation nt , part of the film, and the film was passed by the censor. He wits txpressly inipharisliw that point, for there uir.st ■be a mistake in the Sub-Inspector s evidence. The operator would tell the tort that the same scene appeared in the him. The Magistrate: The impression this ni to gives one is that he lody w the right is nude. I am not at nil rote such a picture should be allowed to be exhibited to the general public. Mr. Skeltou contended that a, merely nude figure was not todojent, and mentioned such pictures aa The Bath ot P°Ycho"i>nd "Psyche at Nature's Jurror" Hβ referred to similar prosccuions that took place in Auckland some, years ago regarding; such pictures, .and said thev were dismissed by the, late Mr. C C KeM-le. S.M, Continuing, Mr. Skelton said the picture was passedl by the censor.vand. lus certificate-was duly attached. If it was held to be mdecent it would be. a grave censure en the era- - sThe Magistrates Ido not see how ve arc to censure the censor. The defendant said his caretaker put the cards in tho Pn^K o ™^.^! 1 ' not know they were there ill the bubInspector called. He did not toll the Sub-Inspector that tho scene had been deleted Vy the censor. Ho told him the scene was in tho picture, but H conid not sayVhethur the particular figure.to which exception had teen token was included. He had received no complaints about the picture except this one. The case was sine die for further evidence.*