Salt Lake Tribune | 1909-04-11 | Page 17 | Question of Propriety is Raised in Court

QUESTION OP PROPRIETY 18 RAISED IN COURT CHICAGO, April 10. A scientific collection col-lection made in China by Prof. Her-tholdt. Her-tholdt. Laufor of Columbia university for tho Field museum of Chicago has been held up hero by Collector of Customs Cus-toms Ames. It becomo known today that the collector's action was based on his belief that the collection, valued at several thousand dollars, is obscene. The seizure was made last October, but by agreement the matter was kept a secret until today. At. that time United Stales District Judge Landis listened lo arguments in chambers. It was admitted that the importation of I ho collection constituted a technical violation of the law, but it was likewise like-wise admitted that the collection formed an essential basis for scientific investigation. Judge Landis slated that he had no doubt tho photographs, paintings,, manuscripts, manu-scripts, etc., were brought into this country for a perfectly proper purpose, but he saw no wnj", without a technical techni-cal violation of tho law. of releasing them. He informed., counsel for the museum that he Would withhold a de- cision. Apparently no solution of tho 1 difficulty has been found.