The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-19
Upon Advice Of District Attorney deputy
Marshal Grabs Bundle Of The
Finished Mystery
VIOLATION OF LAW
TO POSSESS BOOKS
Ofcer Warns People; Asks They Bring
Copies 10 His Office and Avoid
Trouble

Following advices from the United
States district attorney to the effect
that the subject matter of the book,
THE Finished Mystery" is seditious,
J. W. Speake, United States commits
sioner, and United States Deputy
Marshal Dillon, have been busy in
Chickasha with the result that Dep
uty Dillon has rounded up a total Of
96 of the books here.
The orders of the district attorney
stated that while the subject matter
is seditious, arrests should be made
only where the books were sold after
the ruling was given. The local fed
eral men will keep a sharp lookout
and if it is found that after the date
OF the district attorneys ruling any
one has sold the books, they will be
heralded before a federal judge in
short order,
Armed with the proper authority,
Deputy Dillon set forth in quest OF
any surplus FINISHED Mysteries"
that might be lying around loose. On
North Sixth street at tho residence
Of Mr.. and Airs. 5. s. Coy he was
successful in rounding UP a bunch of
them These parties recently paid
fines In the city police court for sell
ing books without a license. The
books sold were none other than the
Finished Mystery" At that time, A.
H. Sampley was brought before May
or Coffman on a similar charge and
paid fine. However, this Samply
party was not to be found in the.
city yesterday afternoon.
Acting upon a hot tip received,
Deputy Dillon proceeded to the home
of Mr.. Moffatt S14 Minnesota ave-
nue., stated his purpose, was admit
ted and came away with another
bunch of the books. These books
are now held in the office of the
deputy marshal and while the parties
from whom they were secured were
not arrested, Messrs. Dillon and
Speake made it plain that a close
watch was going to be kept in the
future for any act that might be
classed as seditious.
81 only wish that we had received |
the order from the district attorney
sooner" said Mr.. Dillon. ''In connec- |
ton with this book, want to say
that anyone holding on the Fin
ished Mystery" in their possession |
at this time, Is doing SO In violation |
of the federal law. 1t is against the !
law for anyone to keep in their pos
session any seditious literature of
any nature and these books are with
out a doubt seditious. Therefore,
am going to ask that anyone having /
a copy or copies of "The Finished !
Nlygtery' in their possession, bring
it TO the office Of the deputy mar
shall without delay. By doing so they
will save themselves some future |
trouble This applies not only to
those in the city who may have these |
books in their possession for sale, I
tnat is, those who have acted as
agents or intend to do so, but also
those citizens who were induced to
purchase a copy of the books by the
agents who worked the town."
The Finished Mystery" is book
By the late Pastor Russell of New !
York City and has had a wide circu-
lation. especially during the past few
weeks. At various points in Oklaho-
ma. these agents have been operating
and there have been a number OF
Instances whefs Considerable quanti-
ties Of the books have been taken UP
by the authorities. Now that the rul-
ing of the district attorney brands
them as seditious matter, there viii !
be a constant open season on all the
publications, the agents or anyone
caught with one Of the books.
Therefore, if you happen to have a
"Finished Mystery" in the closet
along with tho family skeleton, you
had better drag it out--the book, not
the skeleton-and take it up to Dep. /
tity Z. S. Marshal Dillon promptly |.
and without delay. Otherwise sorse ,