The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-20
(, ~ - r
O%e.>s-" is OF
Red Meet
Are Barred
Federal Agent Present at
Powwow in Michigan Last
Summer Testifics in Trial
of William Foster.
| Identifies d e Delegates

= ~
ST. Joseph. Mich, March 19.-P)-
Secrets Of the organizations Of the
communist convention in the sand
dunes near here last August were re.
vealed today in circuit court when
"K.97." Department OF Justice agent,
who attended the meeting as a dele
gate, took the stand as the states
star witness against William Z. Eos
ter. charged with criminal syndical-
ism.
"k.9T"-his number in the files Of
the government secret services
Francis Morrow of Camden, y. j.
Among the communists he WAS known
rs Ashworth, and at the convention.
where all delegates used assumed
names. he vas ealles Day.
Morrow identified the delegate list
or the convention. the regulations Of
tho grounds committee which directed
il. OF the stewards who policed 1t and
the program agenda convention call.
party program and constitution and
Convict Elected Chairman.
lie told how he was chosen dele
gate from The communists group IN
Philadelphia and Camden and how he
left Philadelphia with Alexander Bal
and John Greissinger two other dele.
gate-.
The convention. the witness sad
was opened BY Jay Lovcstone OF New
York. soon after which Ben Gitlow.
alias Lowe. OF New York. who is now
in Sing Sing prison serving a sentence
under the syndIealism laws of New
York. was elected chairman.
o. l.. Smith. assistant attorney gen
eral Of Michigan. tried twice to intro.
duce in evidence the program and con.
stitution OF the communist party.
which the witness had identified. but
each time Judge Charles White sns-
tanned objections ~ Frank l.. Walsh,
eaIcf OF counsel for Poster. THAT the
document had not yet been properly
identified.
Describes Meet in Detail.
The witness described the conyen-
ilD0 III QfidAl. f1Fro4NllNf AN TtilIs ~ e
held In a deep ravine between two
lofty sand dunes the delegates sitting
around on planks placed on cement
blocks to form a half circle on the
srraced hillsides.
Maurace Wolf another Depart
ment Of Justice agent. Hho preceded
Morrow on the stand. identified moro
than a hundred documents as among
those seized In the raid.
on cross examination. Mr. Walsh
attempted to show that Wolff had ap-
peared with Max Burger another fed
eral agent. who is now attached TO
the Michigan attorney generals Of
flee as special assistant prosecutor in
the Foster case. before the Bc1rien
county board Of supervisors and told
the board the trial would not cost the
county one cent because money would
he obtained from an outside source to
defray the expenses.
Mr. Walsh specifically asked II
Wolff had made the statement before
the board that nc was not al liberty
TO say whore the money was coming
from. but that Il would be furnished
d1 il mas ltfl4 lN tiNtf case"
Wolff Denies Statement.
Wolft fatty denied making the
statement, although admitting he vas
present at the meeting at which the
communist case was discussed
Tho defense introduced an affidavit
from Fred g. Franz. former sheriff
Of Berrien county and now member
Of the board. which refers TO Burgers
presence at the meeting Of the board
This affidavit was produced when a
motion Tor a change OF venue was
argued two weeks ago The affidavit
quotes Burger as saying "he was not
at liberty To state from what source
monies would be received TO recon
pense Borricn county"
Mr.. Franz also made affidavit that
Frank Hall. county clerk. had re-
ported to the board that the question
OF dcfraylng the expense OF the trial
had been discussed with Congressman
John &, ketcham. and that the con.
gresham had reported that he had
communicated with William j. Burns.
head OF the bureau Of investigation Of
tho Department Of Justice at Wash.
ington and that Burns had advised
Congressman ketcham that. although
the government OF the United States
could not legally assist financially. yet
tho funds were assured from sources
which were not revealed"
A Michigan statute makes i mis-
demeanor for n prosecutor 10 accept
funds from private sources 10 defray
costs of prosecution.