SELLING INDECENT POST CARDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 44, 14 August 1911, Page 5

SELLING INDECENT POST CARDS

MAN SENT TO GAOL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Walter Nicholl, for whom Mr. Cassidy appeared, pleaded guilty t« a viiarge of having sold indecent postcards on a railway train. Sub-Inspector McGrath stated that the facts -were that two constables in plain clothes had been travelling to Timaru from Christchurch by the first express. Accused, who had sold them a newspaper, asked them if they would care to buy a postcard, at the same time showing the cards objected to. The constables had bought postcards, paying threepence each for them. One of the constables had aßked accused if he was not afraid to sell such cards. Accused replied to the effect that he knew his mark, adding: "If I were caught Bishop would give me hell." His Worship: I don't know anything about his future in the next world, but he's going to get it in this world for keeping such cards. Mr. Cassidy stated that accused had been working on the train for eight years. This was the first time that he had been before the court or in trouble. Accused had denied soiling eight cards, stating that he had sold three only, and had given the rest to the constables. He also denied having passed comment on his fate if he came before Mr. Bishop that the constables alleged. Counsel wished to show that accused had not been trafficking in indecent matter.

Mr. Bishop: Where did he get these cards?

Mr. Cassidy said that his client had picked them up amongst a box of pictorial and comic cards. Mr. Bishop said that he could not understand persons having such cards in their possession. There was nothing whatever to attract, amuse, or educate on such cards. There was nothing humorous about them. They were merely filthy. Accused had been aware of the nature of the offence he was committing, and had evidently anticipated trouble if he was caught., That had been shown by this scarcely respectful reference to him (Mr. Bishop). A magistrate of his standing was likely to have vcrv decided opinions upon certain points, and they were likely to be well known. He had never hesitated to express his opinions .freely. Of course, he would not allow this statement to make any difference to his judgment. Mr. Cassidy repeated that accused denied having made the remarks. His Worship, continuing, said that he supposed the constables would swear to it. but the matter was immaterial. "There is a section of the community, I suppose, who regard me as a perfect terror, and it is just as well for the community as a whole that they should regard me in that way. Tt makes for respect for law and order." It was not a case for a light penalty. A senr tence of one month's imprisonment would be inflirted.