Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-14
RUSSIAN SOVIET
HEADQUARTERS
IN N. Y. RA!DED
All Documents Taken to Serve
as Evidence Before Lusk
BoIsheyism Investigating
Body.

= )
was interrupted" yesterday after
n noon at the headquarters OF the
Russian soviet bureau when a
squad Of detectives invaded the Of
4 fees. took possession of all the rec
ords and other papers and served
subpoenas on A. K. S. Martens,
head OF the soviet embassy and four
of his assistants to appear as wit
y ncsses before the Lusk committee
which opened its investigation of
bolshevism in the city hall yester-
day, =,
The men subpoenaed with Mar
tens were: A. A. Heller, I. A. Hour
! witch, S. N. Nuertova and Gregory
Weinstein, each of whom, according
\ to Sidney R. Fleisher, their attor-
h ney, were heads of departments Of
the soviet bureau.
The detectives descended upon
the headquarters in the hve-room
srite on the fifth floor of the World
Tower building, ITO West Fortieth
\ street, shortly before 3 o'clock.
After they had taken possession no
Y one was permitted to leave the
building from that floor and all per-
4 sons entering the headquarters
we're requested" to remain. !.
Consul General Stays"
Among those caught in the net
was John Reed, Eastwhile consul
general of the bolshevist govern
nent IN the United States. Mr..
4 Reeds name was taken and he
asked: "Am / to be detained here?"
one of the detectives replied:
"You'd better stay 4 little while"
.But, am / held here?"
WED like to have you stay" was
the reply.
Mr.. Reed remained but finally was
permitted to leave, as were all hands
after pedigrees had been taken and
an inventory made of the records,
an papers which were removed to
be laid before the Lusk committee.
4 The invasion of the headquarters
caused very little perturbation
among the members Of the office
force. The stenographers and
clerks, under the orders of the de-
tectives, went calmly about the work
Of drawing up inventories. prepar-
ing lists OF names, etc. Those who
wished to telephone their relatives
were permitted to do so, with de-
tective operating the switchboard
and another standing by to note the
trend of the conversation. One
young lady telephones friend:
Listen, Esther, Name and / were
coming over to you house tonight,
but | won't be there. can't tell
why. just now Tell you tomorrow
" Circumstances Alter Cases.
A ciefk telcphoned: "Circum-
SAAnees over which have no con-
froi make it impossible for me TO
keep my engagement ! cannot sx-
A plain now.
Martens, the soviet ambassador"
tall, rather well built man of about
s.. with blue eyes, light hair and
light moustache looking more Teu-j
tonic than Russian, seemed to be 7the
calmest Of all as he left. the building
accompanied by detective. Before
taking up the. duties of representa-
tive of the soviet government about
two months ago, he was connected
With New York importing house.
The subpoena under which the
seizure of papers and records was
made was issued by City Magis-.
trate Brough. No statement re-
garding the nature Of the documents
seized was obtsinable in advance, of
their production before the Lusk
committee.
An executive session of the Lusk
committee was held following the
raid on the soviet headquarters.
After the session Senator Lusk is
sued = statement in explanation of
the action taken.