The Washington times., 1922-06-06
]. U.S.HIGHCOURT
K|CKSOU|JAD OFF
|TSFR0NT STEP
-corporeaI, Mystic Busy
body Sent Into Cold World
CharacterIess.

OuiJa. bringer Of omens from the
spirit world. who shakes a wicked
but palsied finger and having writ
moves on, leaving in It's wake a
growing list Of mysteries, is neither
fish nor fowl nor good red herring,
according to the United States Su-
preme Court who has refused to
commit itself as to the mysteries
OuiJa reveals, or conceals.
The trials and trbulations Of
OuiJa In it's wanderings up to the
highest tribunal in the United
States has led II through devious
paths. Its virtues have been
praised and maligned by friend and
foe before nearly a dozen minor and
major Federal courts, only to he
turned back at the portals Of the
Supreme Tribunal without being
divested OF the shroud OF mystery
which clothes its spiritual anatomy.
= The present action, which brou Sht
Ouita, trembling and afraid, to the
United States Supfeme Court. had
It's inception in 1920 when Joshua
w. Miles. then Collector OF Internal
Revenue, sent the Baltimore Talk.
ing Board Company bill for
$107.30. The Collector claimed shat
his department, through It's subsid.
iary. the Prohibition Enforcement
Bureau, had entire control over
departed spirits"
The Valley of Indecision.
The company paid the bill, but
not without protest at the silly"
ruling. A suit to recover the sum
was Immediately filed. The com.
pany declaring that while the Pro-
hibition Department might have
supervision over worldly spirits, its
Jurisdiction did not extend to the
great beyond. All summer long in
the year OF 1920 the case was
fought out through lower. interme-
diary and higher Federal courts in
Maryland and Virginia.
Some OF the courts held Ouija was
game-a child's game-others
held II was a means Of communities
ton and probably should come
under the supervision OF the Inter.
state Commerce Commission whO
has charge Of telephones and tele'
graphs, etc.
Some held that Ouita. II a game
or toy, was taxable as such. In
each instance there was a dissent
ing opinion. Finally the case Of
Ouija was given a change Of venue.
An appeal was made to the Circuit
Court Of Appeals at Richmond
where OuiJa again fell prey to the
doubling judges. Finally ma.
jority opinion. was handed down on
February 8, with Judge Martin A.
Knapp dissenting.
Loses Final Test.
Then the final test came. The
Talking Board Company. through
it's counsel. threw its protege into
the lap Of the United States Su-
preme Court, and held its breath
Decision was prompt and decisive.
Thumbs down, the court unani-
mously agreed. The Talking Board
Company had lost. II must pay the
tax, plus the cost, plus the law
yers and withal minus judicial de-
cision as to Ouija's status.
This Is not the first, nor probably
the last, Of Ouija's trials and trihu'
lations. Her first judicial bout was
with an Illinois court when she was
hailed before tribunal on a charge
of slander.
Ouija's reputation of seeing all,
hearing all and knowing ALL" up to
the time Of the slander suit was
unquestioned. Her first rebuke,
however. came when she recited the
alleged fact that a certain Frank
Walters had stolen the indispensa'
BILE raisin. Ouija's owner. whose
faith was abundant in the spirit
messenger. took up the charge and
resulted in being made defendant In
a first! class slander suit for $4,000.
which IA still pending.