HAMMETT DASHIELL: (1894-1961) American author of hardboiled detective fiction including The Maltese Falcon (1930). Hammett's novels had a large influence on films, particularly in the genres of detective fiction, mystery thrillers and film noir. A good T.L.S., `Dashiell Hammett´, one page, 4to, New York, 19th January 1942, to John Hyde Preston. The typed document bears the printed heading of the “International Labor Defense – 112 East 19th Street – New York” and is signed at the base by Hammett in his capacity as President of the League of American Writers. Hammett tries to obtain support and and a book signed and inscribed in order to auction it and get funds for a fair cause, stating in part `A copy of one of your books is locked up in a cell in the Oklahoma County jail. It has been there since August 1940. It has become “evidence” of criminal syndicalism in a case now widely known as the “Oklahoma Book Trials”. If it isn´t in jail, it was burned in a public bonfire in Oklahoma City earlier in August. The fight for the freedom of the four young people already convicted and sentenced to 10 years… has gone on continuously since August 1940 and has cost tens of thousands of dollars. It has now reached the stage of appeals to the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals. It must be taken to the United States Supreme Court if necessary. To meet some of these costs, the International Labor Defense, which is handling the legal defense in these cases, and the League of American Writers are running a book sale and auction under the general title “Books Burned, Books in Jail in Oklahoma, and Books Still Free – For the Benefit of the Victims of the Oklahoma Book Trials´ Before concluding, Hammet adds `We know that you agree with us that such outbursts of un-Americanism as the Oklahoma Witch-Hunt must be corrected with greater speed than ever before in the interest of national unity and national defense. Victory for the Bill of Rights in Oklahoma, and freedom for the defendants, will be assured by persistent efforts to “cleanup” the little Hitlers in Oklahoma who do not represent the wishes of the American people´ Also signed at the base by Vito Marcantonio, in his capacity as President of ther International Labor Defense. Small overall minor creasing and age wear, otherwise G