New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Girls Veracity
Is Challenged
At Custer Trial
Anti'Socialist League Secre-
tary Denies Miss Chivcrs
Is Member, but There Are
Two Such Organizations
Sweet Replies to Letter
Prosecution Expects to
Close Case Against Five
Socialists OH Wednesday
From, q Stof Correspondert

PctUe+'''
ALBANY, Feb. 5.---An attack on the
credibility of Ellen B. Chivcrs, the
seventeen-year-old Brooklyn stenogra-
pher, was made at to-day's session of
the trial of the five ouated Socialist
Assemblymen. There was read into
the record letter from Joseph w.
Nolan, secretary of the American Anti
Socialist League, denying that Miss
Chivers was a member cf the organi-
Zaton.
Miss Chivers had testihed that she
had seen Assemblyman Charles Solo
mon, one of the men on trial, spit on
the American flag and insult fifteen
American soldiers and that he was
not even rebuked.
In his letter, Nolan also called at
tention to the fact that Russell j.
Dunn, the antisemitic orator, who was
imprisoned for his attacks on Jews, had
been expelled from the league.
Dunn, who has been here for three
days. expecting to be called as wit
ness against Assemblymen Solomon.
Classsns, Orr, Dewitt and Waldman,
has been repeating his attacks on Jews
IN the corridors of the Capitol.
Sweet Makes Reply
The letter attacking Miss Chivers
was read into the record by Seymour
Stedman, counsel for the suspended
SOCIALISTS, and reply to it, signed by
lhaddeus q. Sweet, Speaker of the AS
sembly, was incorporated in the min
utes by John B. Stanchfield, counsel for
the prosecution. Nolan's letter read:
=, There has come to our attention
through articles appearing in to-day's
New York City papers that Ellen B.
Chlvers appeared before the Assembly
committee yesterday and gave evidence
against the ousted Socialist members
of the Assembly.
Ellen B. Chivers swears she was and
is now member of the American Anti
Socialist League, Inc, of Brooklyn, and
is now paying rs cents weekly dues in
this organization. This is an absolute
untruth.. Ellen B. Chivers is not now
and never was member of this league.
She never paid dues into its treasury
ana her name never appeared on our
books. She is absolutely unknown to us.
Russell j. Dunn, to whom she made
reference in her testimony, likewise
is not a member Of this league. Mr..
Dunn was expelled from this orrani-
zatlon last June on very serious
charges, and since that time has had
no connection with this league what
soever.
Protests Against Evidence
Our league has been fighting
ooclailsm and its 'kindredisms' in
this borough for many years. but we
fo
one using. the rame of the American n
Anti Socialist League, Inc. to qain
notoriety for themselves and give
prestige to their remarks.
We are writing you of this in or
der @ TO protest against the evidence of
TINS woman going down on the records
OF TINS trial as coming from a mem
per and representative of this league.
~. Respectfully yours,
american AntiSocialist League. Inc.
"By Joseph W. Nolan. Secretary. y
The letter gave the following list of
officers:
James L. Mccarthy, president; Frank
J: Bruce, M. D., first vice-prcsident:
Michael Dunno, second vice-president:
David P. Burke, third vice e-president;
Joseph l.. Nolan, secretary
Mr.. Stanchfield, when the letter was
read, SAID that there was rivalry as to
the right to use Of the name Anti
SOCIALIST League" and added: Gas a
matter of fact, the witness, Miss
ChlVers, was quite correct in her testi-
mony, and she is a member of the Anti
Socialist League which holds its meet
ings at Acme Hall. Seventh Avenue and
Ninth Street, whereas the league of
which Mr.. Stedman spoke has its
headquarters at 361 Eleventh Street.
1t seems the rivalry has progressed so
far that proceedings are pending as to
which one is entitled to use what has
become very popular name.
"! had perfect right to object to
Mr.. Stedman's reading the letter, but I
knew perfectly we'll, also, that it would
appear before the court of public opin-