January 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, January 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2017
Clarence Darrow autograph letter signed on his personal ''1537 East 60th Street / Chicago'' letterhead, dated 24 June [1930]. Letter is addressed to Dr. Forrest R. Black, law professor at the University of Kentucky and author of the book on prohibition, ''Ill Starred Prohibition Cases: A Study in Judicial Pathology''. Darrow and Black built a friendship on their mutual hatred for the Eighteenth Amendment and the subsequent Volstead Act that spurred thirteen years of prohibition, which is mentioned in this letter: ''My Dear Mr. Black / I have not done anything about your article on the scheme to beat the Volstead Act. It is too bad that the magazine owners refuse to publish the really important stuff. I think your stuff was exceedingly good. I spoke to Talman about it and he said they always got into trouble by putting anything in the magazines about prohibition. He said he would send it to all the members of the board, but he won't do it. I have been thinking that I could write one or two stories on the uselessness of talking of repealing the 18th Amendment - and the schemes we hear evolved. I believe I could get it taken by Collier's or another publication. I would not go into the legal discussion as you know but would rather summarize it and 'popularize' it...I would probably sell something for them and would want to share it with you...Clarence Darrow''. Measures 7.25'' x 10.5'' on one page with minor toning, else near fine.
Clarence Darrow Autograph Letter Signed -- Regarding His Disdain for Prohibition -- ''...I could write one or two stories on the values...of repealing the 18th Amendment...''
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