United States v. One Book Entitled "The Adventures of Father Silas"

FRANKEL, District Judge.

In two consolidated proceedings under Section 305 of The Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. ^ 1305, 1 the Government seeks “the forfeiture, confiscation, and destruction of” twelve allegedly obscene paper-backed books mailed from French publishers to the claimant, Mel Friedman, in California. 2 The quarrel began when the Collector of Customs at the Port of New York “seized and held” the books and (months later) brought them here “to await the judgment of the district court * * The claimant has moved for summary judgment, claiming that the First and Fifth Amendments to the…