VENDING OBSCENE PICTURES. - Jean Rosseau, whose name and idiom are very French, was arraigned yesterday in the Police Court to answer to the charge of publicly exhibiting divers and sundry stereoscopic plates, taken in attitudes which, to say the least, might be considered indelicate. The defence too high grounds, to wit: that said pictures have been heretofore exhibited to the imperial family and the nobility of France without receiving the royal taboo; that they had been shown, by special request to parents, to their children, and that husbands had borrowed them for the admiration of their wives, etc., yet never before had any exception been taken to them, whatever. Defendant's son stated on his behalf, that he had done business in the city of San Francisco as a hair-dresser for several years, and always bore an irreproachable character, but having an empty show window in his establishment, he thought that nothing could occupy it more appropriately than these chaste and beautiful representations of the graces. His idea seemed to be, that the pictures were purely classical, at least histrionic. Judge Shepheard, however, took a different view of the matter. These plates were a climax of the fine arts and polite literature that his appreciation had yet never attained unto. He observed that such exhibitions were positively demoralizing in their tendencies, and that, although they might agree with French ideas of morality, the stricter regime in the United States would condemn them. The objectionable pictures were ordered to be destroyed, and the defendant to appear for sentence. Rosseau gave informal notice that he would appeal from the judgment of the Court. He may go farther and fare worse.
(transcribed from microfilm, p. 2.)
_____
LEWD MERCHANDISE. - Fred. Rudolph was arrested yesterday for selling French playing cards which show obscene pictures when held up to the light; and J. Isaacs was also snatched, for the fourth time, for importing and selling all manner of pictured obscenity. The work of grabbing these fellows still goes on with unabated zeal. Mr. Pelton was at the station-house at midnight last night on business connected with their particular interests.
(transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
_____
STOLEN PROPERTY. - Captain Lees and Officer Rose, of the Detective Police force, have recovered a lot of stolen property, consisting of coats, pants, vests, etc., a portion of which belongs to Doctors Trask and Sharkey. Their next effort will be to recover the thief, and they are already in a fair way to do it.
(Not in Branch's list. Transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
_____
FOR SENTENCE. - F. Hambly, charged with a misdemeanor, was yesterday ordered to pay a fine of fifteen dollars, or appear for sentence. John Hoffman, for petty larceny, was ordered to appear for sentence this morning. Jean Rosseau, misdemeanor, same order.
(Not in Branch's list. Transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
_____
BAIL FORFEITED. - Henry H. Marshall, charged with assault and battery, forfeited bail, in the Police Court, yesterday. The amount is fifteen dollars, Thomas Young, charged with misdemeanor, also forfeited his bail, twenty dollars. Joseph Cooper, misdemeanor, ditto, fifteen dollars.
(transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
_____
A CONTRABAND TRANSACTION. - Charles Green, colored, is up for assault and battery. He will mollify the offended law in a manner to be prescribed by Judge Shepheard, this morning.
(Not in Branch's list. Transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
_____
FISTIANA. - Charles Spaulding and Michael Hughes were yesterday convicted for having a hostile set to in the streets, and were ordered to appear for sentence.
(Not in Branch's list. Transcribed from microfilm, p. 3.)
Quotations | Newspaper Articles | Special Features | Links | Search