The Topeka State Journal

REFORMERS RELEASED.

Salvation Army Warriors Against Nude in Art, Free.

Omaha, Neb., June 6.—The sentiment in opposition to the public display of the undraped human figure in Omaha seems to be very pronounced, for Miss Mauer and Miss McCormick, arrested for mutilations of statuary at the exposition grounds, were released for want of prosecution. The girls are lieutenants in the Salvation army and a number of the higher officers of that organization were on hand to render them necessary aid. Commander Booth Tucker wired Mayor Frank Moores that if the girls were released they would be transferred to another station, but the girls refused to go, saying that they desired to stand trial, as they had done nothing their consciences did not approve.

The exposition company was determined to prosecute at first, but a large number of protests were received from Omaha people opposed to the nude in art as displayed at the grounds. The girls did not boast of their offense, but both declared that they had been directed by the Lord to do as they did.

The statuary destroyed was within a few feet of the building occupied by the army as a rescue home for fallen girls. Miss Mauer and Miss McCormick thought the display was corrupting, and so climbed the building at the dead of night and cut and mutilated the nude figures.