INDECENCY CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1932, Page 6

INDECENCY CHARGE

AMERICAN PUBLICATION. MEANING OF CERTAIN WORDS. WANGANUI, February 3. In the Police Court to-day, George Melville Strathmore, manager of a department store, was charged with having an indecent document in lifs possession for sale, viz., a number or an American magazine containing gangster stories. Defendant was represented by a. Wellington professor. Detective Walsh said the prosecution was laid under the instruction of the Solicitor-General. Counsel contended nothing had been adduced to show that the document was indecent. Li the three passages objected to only one could be said to be of a libidinous character. No douDt the magazine was not of the highest ‘standard of literature. Duller reading one could not possibly get. That it was an authentic account of the doings of gangsters seemed to be supported by other literature. At. the end of the book, should a youth be misled, there was a warning that the life of a gangster was not a life to be followed. 'Counsel contended that if a youth thought he had am outlet for energy fjlus warning at the end of the book would effectively dissuade him.

Dealing with' one word objected to, counsel said it could not be aigued that this word was indecent. It was a. low word. The. concise New Oxford Dictionary did not deal with the woid as meaning a sexual pervert. It was derived from a word meaning “heretic.” It meant a low fellow. The ward “bloody” was n ot complained of. The Magistrate: It is supposed to he derived from the old oath, “By our Lady.” Counsel said that Dr. .Johnson’s definition referred to it £fs “a term of endearment common among sailors.” The professor said that in another passage, referring to a young woman, the word “it” figured. The word meant general physicial charm. It was often used vaguely. We had a similar slang, expression, “They think tliey are ‘it.’ ” The Magistrate: There was a film entitled “It.” After further argument counsel submitted that the charge was very different from what the Act aimed at. He then referred to' a leading case in Auckland where, in a shop window, was a full-sized copy of a figure of Mentis. In the magazine tjhbre was only one small spot on whidlU'cr it i cism might be centred. The firm had ceased stocking the publication. The magistrate said it would be necessary for him to read the magazine, and he reserved judgment. DEFENDANT. CONVICTED. FINED £O. "!<.<!■ ; <Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association) WANGANUI, February 5. George Melville Strathmore, manager of Woolworths-Ltd., -Wang-anuiv was fined £0 by Magistrate Salmon, arising out of a recent prosecution for having an indecent document in his possession for sale, namely a magazine “Gnngster Stories.” The prosecution was authorised by the Solicitor-General. & The Magistrate said he had no 'dAubt that in the hands of young and impressionable people, and the less intelligent section, the tendency of this publication would be to deprave and corrupt their minds. He accepreet it that the defendants, Woolworth’s, were ignorant of the nature and contents of publication. The offence, therefore, was not committed wilfully. Some penalty was necessary as a warning to booksellers to exercise more care in the supervision of publications for sale.