Concur: Judges Burke, Soileppi, Keating, Breitel and Jasen. Chief Judge Fuld dissents and votes to .reverse in the following opinion in which Judge Bergan concurs.
Although the magazines before us are inexcusably vulgar and tawdry, I do not see how, in the light of constitutional principles heretofore enunciated, they may be held obscene either under the tests laid down by our decisions (see People v. Richmond County News, 9 N Y 2d 578 , 586-587; People v. Finkelstein, 11 N Y 2d 300 , 304, 305; Larhin v. Putnam’s Sons, 14 N Y 2d 399 ; cf. People v. G. I. Distrs., 20 N Y 2d 104 , 107) or under Federal standards. (See, e.g., Redrup v. New York, 386 U. S. 767 ; Conner v. City of Hammond, 389 U. S. 48 ; Felton v. City of Pensacola, 390 U. S. 340 ; Memoirs v. Massachusetts, 383 U. S. 413 ; Roth v. United States, 354 U. S. 476 ; see, also, People v. Noroff, 67 Cal. 2d 791 , 794, n. 6.) “ [T]he price of freedom * * * of speech or of the press ”, as Justice Jackson reminded us in United States v. Ballard ( 322 U. S. 78 , 95 [dissenting opn.]), “ is that we must put up with, and even pay for, a good deal of rubbish. ’ ’
I would, theref ore, .reverse .the judgment of conviction.
Cases cited
- People v. Richmond County News, Inc. 9 N Y 2d 578 at 586-587 p. 866
- People v. Finkelstein 11 N Y 2d 300 at 304, 305 p. 866
- Larkin v. G. P. Putnam's Sons 14 N Y 2d 399 p. 866
- People v. G. I. Distributors, Inc. 20 N Y 2d 104 at 107 p. 866
- Redrup v. New York 386 U. S. 767 p. 866
- Conner v. City of Hammond 389 U. S. 48 p. 866
- Felton v. City of Pensacola 390 U. S. 340 p. 866
- A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" v. Attorney General of Massachusetts 383 U. S. 413 p. 866
- Roth v. United States 354 U. S. 476 p. 866
- People v. Noroff 67 Cal. 2d 791 at 794 p. 866
- United States v. Ballard 322 U. S. 78 at 95 p. 866