November 25, 1968, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Darryl A. Levy, 25, the self-styled poet laureate of Cleveland’s University Circle hippies, was found shot to death in his East Cleveland apartment about midnight.

Coroner Samuel R. Gerber is expected to rule.

Levy’s body was discovered lying partially on a mattress on the floor. Two friends who had not seen him for several days told East Cleveland police they notified the custodian of the apartment at 1744 Wymore Avenue.

THE CUSTODIAN and Levy’s friends reportedly opened a locked door and found Levy, a .22-caliber, single-shot rifle at his side. He had been shot once in the forehead.

It would have been a year ago Thursday that the victim – who signed his name "d. a. levy" – was indicted secretly by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury for publishing and disseminating obscene literature.

But the Supreme Court obscenity rulings forced Common Pleas Judge Francis J. Talty to dismiss the charges, based on Assistant County Prosecutor George Moscarino’s recommendation.

Levy had been an important figure in the hippie community of University Circle. He was the holder of an unofficial position of leadership.

He edited a literary magazine – one of the causes of the secret indictment – called "No. 465." His poetry was it’s prime content.

The victim, who left no note to confirm the police theory that his death was a suicide, had once told a reporter: "All I want in life is to write poems, say what I want and be able to turn on (smoke marijuana) once in a while."