Evening star., 1922-10-25
PLOT T0PO|S0N
J.. s. ARMY AIRED
!. w. w. Leader. at Trial of
Ten, Tells of Activities in
Packing Houses.
CROP SABOTAGE SHOWN
Hay Fields Fired, Wheat Destroyed
by Reversing Bundles, Causing
Kernels to Sprout.
By the Associated Press.

; BY the Associated Press.
| SACRAMENTO, Calf, October 25.-
, Trial of ten seIf-admitted members
Of the Industrial Workers of the
World charged with violating the
continued here today with testimony
by the prosecution. The defense
probably will not open its case until
late this week.
Testimony taken by the prosecution
indicates it is seeking to establish
that the organization Is committed
to the doctrine of sabotage. 1t is
possible that W. e. Townsend, who
claims to have been at one time 4
lieutenant of William Haywood, !. W.
w. leader, will be asked to testify
again today.
Passed Defective Goods.
Townsend was the surprise witness
of the prosecution yesterday, testify
ing that he had obtained employment
with railroads during the war for
the purpose of blowing them up, and
telling of activities of the organiza-
tion in holding up war preparations.
He testified that he had been compli-
mented several times by Haywood
for his activities against soldiers.
He said that in one of the big pack
ing houses in Chicago 300 or 400 In
dustrial Workers were at work dur
ing the war and that part of their
task was to test canned goods before
shipment Instead of condemnlng
the cans. he said. the Industrial
Iax
I'VE wanted to cripple the packers
and also we were opposed to the war"
Townsend testified. I'VE used to let
them poison Uncle Sans damned gun
nerS.'"
Further, to ruin food contained in
drove in the nails on the boxes so
they would pierce the can and some
times nails were driven through the
boxes at places where they were not
needed in order to ruin the contents
Attack Crops in Fields.
In the sabotage of the harvest fields.
destroyed. hay fields fired and har-
vested wheat often destroyed by plac-
ing the bundles Of wheat upside down.
so that the kernals Of wheat drew
moisture from the ground and
sprouted.
All of these acts of sabotage, Town
send related on the stand, are a part
of general plan, and crews of men
are assigned to the work of destruc-
ton.
Townsend testified that during the
period he belonged to the l. W. w.
from 1909 to 1921, he had Joined vari,
Gus branches of the military service
eleven times.
Eight Marines I'm 1. w. w.
Regarding his being stationed as a
marine at Mare Island, Townsend
said:
TN my command of forty-eight
men. eight of them had carried the
I. w. W. card. The plan of the ]. W.
W. is to gain friends in all branches
of industry and the government, so
that when the industries are taken
over there will be no trouble"
Later Townsend testified: "The
Il. w. w. sought to place its members
in responsible positions so they helm
from within. Through Haywood
became a special railroad agent on
the y Rock Island and Santa F'e rail-
roads.
"The plan was. + could help blow
up the railroads. But never carried
out my plans, as the government rof
busy and was arrested by fbe
Department Of Justice"
Eleven Taken I'm Raid.
The Industrial Workers oreani-
zation. Townsend testified. main
tains flying squadrons," which are
really gunner who ride up and
down on the trains" They beat up
the train crews. threaten them and
even seek to coax them into allow
ing I. W. W. members to ride on the
trains
Townsend testified he had quit the
organisation because he believed 1t
was wrong.
Acting on advices received that
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