January 16, 1967, Cleveland Plain Dealer

-- by Gene I. Maeroff

Poet D. A. Levy – accused of publishing and dispersing obscene literature – will surrender himself today, he told The Plain Dealer last night.

He has been sought by Cleveland police since Jan. 5 when a warrant was issued for his arrest following announcement the he had been indicted secretly Nov. 28 by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.

LEVY, 24, IS an avant-garde poet who has won local attention with the use of four-letter words in his work.

"I didn’t like the idea of being considered a fugitive and I’m convinced I haven’t broken any laws," Levy said of his decision to surrender.

Levy said he has no money. He intends to ask lawyer Jonathan S. Dworkin to represent him.

"If he asks me, I’ll accept the case," Dworkin said last night. "I will advise him to go to Common Pleas Court and secure an arraignment."

IF HE IS jailed, Levy said last night, he will refuse to accept food. He added that he has no money to post bond. He explained:

"I will go on a hunger strike because I think the city has no right to jail me. What I may have written is less obscene than the attitudes of Cleveland’s public officials towards the Hough area."

"The reason I’ve waited this long to surrender is because I’ve had some work to complete. I’ve been writing poetry and praying while staying at the home of a friend. I haven’t left Greater Cleveland."

LEVY IS A widely known figure around the University Circle beatnik haunts. He also has organized several poetry readings at the area colleges.

His publication, Marijuana Quarterly, is believed to have been among materials confiscated by police Dec. 1 when they arrested James R. Lowell, a downtown bookseller, on charges of selling obscene material.

Dworkin along with Clyde E. Thomas, also is representing Lowell.