Ray Coffin, 39, arrested twice Sunday (Sep. 30th) on charges of violating a section of the penal code, which prohibits the exhibition of minors without a permit signed by the Mayor, was held for the action of the Court of Special Sessions after arraignment before Magistrate John Walsh in Adams street court this morning.
Coffin is alleged to be manager of "Our Gang," the group of juvenile motion picture comedians under contract to Hal Roach. He will be tried on the charge this afternoon in order to leave with "Our Gang" for St. Louis in the morning.
At a hearing on the charges Monday (the 1st), Magistrate Gasper Liota released Coffin in the custody of his attorney, Archibald Veltman, of 1540 Broadway, Manhattan, pending the examination to-day. No bail was required for his appearance in Special Sessions.
Coffin had a permit to exhibit the children during the week ending Sept. 29, which did not include Sunday. Monday he obtained a three-day permit to prevent more arrests.
He claims that he is only a member of the cast, and does not own or have anything to do with the act. He simply accompanies it wherever Hal Roach directs, he says.
The arrests were made on complaint of Nicholas Marotta, John Solan, Alister Forman and Lester Buckover, conscientious members of the Children's Society, who attended the shows. A member of the district attorney's staff said it was a shame to take such action.