THE DETROIT NEWS

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

12 January 1922

O.T.O. VOLUME WILL BE SEIZED.

“Equinox,” Official Organ of Cult,

Termed Indecent by Prosecutor.

Hundreds of volumes of the Equinox, official publication of the O. T. O., will be seized at once according to Prosecutor Paul W. Voorhies, who after reading parts of the publication declared it to be one of the “most remarkable and degenerate books” he had ever seen.

Detective-Lieut. Quinn took an inventory of the books, hundreds of which are in the basement of the Universal Book Store, 335-341 Grand River Avenue, and the search and seizure warrant was drawn up upon his report.

The O.T.O. came into public notice following the bankruptcy of the Universal Book Stores, Inc., proprietors of the Universal Book Store. Grover L. Morden, attorney, representing the creditors, began an investigation into the publication of The Equinox, the capital for which came from the money invested in the book store.

Albert Ryerson was directing head of the company at the time of publication of the book. In the bankruptcy proceedings, stockholders of the company testified that they did not know the meaning or the contents of the book but had been assured by Ryerson it was an “occult” book and would find a ready sale.

The book contains pictures which the prosecutor believes are objectionable.