Judge, 1927-05-07 · page 2 of 36
Judge — May 7, 1927 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This tabloid page reports on the "Licorice Love Cult," a sensational 1920s scandal involving Kenneth Grife, identified as a cult leader. District Attorney Harvey P. Quackenbush is prosecuting what appears to be a criminal case involving alleged improper conduct. The page combines serious journalism with the satirical tone typical of Judge magazine. The photographs show Grife and courtroom scenes. The headline uses exaggerated language ("Tot Weeps") to sensationalize the proceedings. The "Quackenbush" name appears to be satirical—Judge is mocking the district attorney's actual name through their word choice, a common practice in this magazine. The overall effect presents a genuine scandal through a lens of ridicule and sensationalism, reflecting Judge's satirical approach to contemporary news.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY HARVEY P. QUACKENBUSH, before whose powerful indictment Grife quailed and nearly Tabloid Number Flays Love Cult as Tot Weeps! Quackenbush Asks Police Probe for Infant Orgies NEW YORK, May 7.—In what promises to be the most sensational case in years, District Attorney Harvey P. Quackenbush yesterday started the prosecution in Magistrate Boccaccio’s court in Yorkville of the famous Licorice Love Cult, Swollen- eyed with grief and anguish, his face bleak with misery, Kenneth Grife, the four- year-old alleged leader and all-powerful “Oom” of this mysterious order, faced the ehair today as Prosecutor Quackenbush assailed Grife’s alibi, On Verge of Collapse Several times during the ordeal of cross-examination Grife seemed on the verge of nervous collapse, but timely shots in the arm saved him. At one time, when Mr. Quackenbush confronted Grife and thundered at him: “Did you or did you not give Annie Schmoltz, 3, gifts of Heorice and marbles?” Grife shielded his face with his hands and whispered hoarse- LADY ee oe implicated in motor murder mystery. Lord Lovenest suspected. All England aroused. See story on page 68. KENNETH GRIFE, re- puted brains and “Qom” of new and mysterious love cult. ly: “No! No! Bring me baloney from Alban: do what you will; but OT THAT, NOT THAT!” Sobs Punctaate Story Grife’s Hfe story was pa- thetic and frequent sobs of remorse interrupted his evi- dence. A hardened criminal, his. fortitude was broken down under the terrific and gruelling grilling of the pros- ecution counsel Under the repeated hammering of the fron-haired attorney, his sor- did story was reconstructed. Grife, who will be five years old in August, served a seven year term in Jolfet for may- hem, estoppal, habeas corpus and conversion. Upon his re- Tease he came to New York and began life anew as a chambermaid in the West Side Y. W. C. A. It was here that he met Annie Schmoltz, ‘Wooed Her Ardently “We went out on many good times together,” he ad- mitted, “Annie and I both loved chicken patties and this common bond united us, I took her to bull-fights, dog-fights, and booze-fights. I wined her and dined her. I gave her”—and here his boyish voice trembied— “I gave her licorice and mar- bles. Not those bum clay marbles, but big shiny ones with pretty colors. On her birthday { gave her a beauti- ful big agate with a lamb inside. Then I asked her to (Continued on page 11) IN TODAY’S PAPER comicbooks.com _ - ©