“ Silence in Court! ”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 14

“ Silence in Court! ”

Radclyffe Hall Creates Scene In Court Over Banned Book

Sir Chartres Biron, the Bow Street magistrate, has given his considered decision in the case concerning Miss Radclyffe Hall’s novel, “The Well of loneliness.” Messrs. Jonathan Cape. Ltd., of Bedford Square. Bloomsbury, W.C., and Mr. Leonard B. Hill, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, representative of the Pegasus Press, Paris, were summoned to show cause why copies of the novel should not be destroyed on the ground that the book was obscene. The book was banned by order of the Home Office, and subsequently copies sent over from France were seized by the authorities. Sir Charles Biron said before he could order the book t o be destroyed

he had to be satisfied it was an obscene libel. Meaning of “Obscene” There seems to be a considerable misunderstanding about the meaning of the word obscgpe, said Sir Charles. It is suggested that this book cannot be described fairly as obscene because in the course ot it there are no filthy words, and it is said to be well written and should be regarded as a work of literature and therefore not a proper subject for these proceedings. I find that the Standard Dictionary

describes the word obscene as “offensive to chastity, delicacy or decency . . . or offensive to the moral senses.” Some Literary Merits I agree that the book has some literary merits, but the fact that the book is well written can be no answer to these proceedings, because otherwise we should be in the preposterous position that the most obscene books would be free from stricture. It must appear to everyone of intelligence that the better an obscene book is written the greater the public to whom it is likely to appeal. The more palatable the poison the more insidious. Sir Chartres said he could imagine a novel being written presenting the whole matter as a tragedy which might have a strong moral influence. He added that the whole of the book, putting it on the most temperate basis, Is a demand for the toleration and recognition of a certain type of woman —that in ordinary society they should not be madqj outcasts or pariahs or ostracised by decent people. Author’s Protest Sir Chartres made some reference to a passage in the book referring to war-workers. Miss Radclyffe Hall, calling from where she sat at the solicitors’ table: “I protest; I most emphatically protest. 1 am the authoress of this book, and I cannot let that remark pass ” Sir Chartres: If you cannot behave yourself in this court I shall have to have you removed. Miss Radclyffe Hall: It is a shame. A police sergeant told Miss Radclyffe Hall that she must keep quiet. Sir Chartres quoted further passages from the book. An Obscene Libel “These being the terms of it,” concluded Sir Chartres, “I have no hesitation whatever in saying it is an obscene libel; it would tend to corrupt those into whose hands it should fall, and the publication of this book is an offence against public decency, an obscene libel, and I shall order it to be destroyed.” The defendants were ordered to pay the costs.