Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-18
INDICT nine FOR
LARCENY IN RUSS
COLONY SCHEME

New York. April 17-Nine persons,
including r. Pascal Cosgrove. chair
man Of the Autonomous Industrial
Colony Kuzbas. and Roger Bald win.
director of the American Civil Lib
critics Union, were indicted today for
grand larceny on complaints of
American investors in the Russian
colonization scheme.
All of hose~indicted are alleged to
have official connection with Kuzbas.
BY lurid advertisements and false
representations. it is charged. they
induced Americans to invest in the
Russian colony and some of them
to go there and live.
Besides Cosgrove and Baldwin, the
indictments name Matt, Muari, vice
chairman of Kuzbas: Edgar Owen. a
field representative. Amos Reese, who
signed the checks drawn by the Or
ganizatiOn. Mont Schuyler and Tom
Baker. of the kuZbas publicity de-
partment: Clare Hillen, of Detroit
and II. S Calvert, who according to
Emery Weller. assistant district, is
leader in the colonization scheme.
All of the indi~ I have been active
propagandists Of Ped literature. au-
throughout the United States and bencl,
warrants for their arrests have been
issued.
That the indictments had been re-
turned was not revealed until Cos
orr - 1,.l
the district attorneys office to ask that
bail be fixed for him
Baldwin served a year in a federal
prison after the World War for oppos-
ing the draft. Cosgrove and Frank
Reese were arrested 10 days ago and
held in $500 bail each. when Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas B. Doyle of Baton Rouge.
La. returned from Russia and charged
they had been inveig1ed to invest sIl00
in kuzbas and 60 there to live
They had been swindled. they charg-
ed. The cooperative settlement in Rus
STA. advertised as the owner of the full
working. profit-sharing steel mill rear
ed in village Of Ctopian beauty and
comfort. turned out to be ramshackle.
dismantled structure surrounded by
novels and sqUalor. the Americans al
legged.
Reese was exonerated Of the charges
and released. but Cosgrove was held TO
the grand jury. Presentation nf the
evidence against him resulted in the
eight additional indictments today.
aid the prosecutors.
As evidence Of faith in the project,
the Doyles and Noyak went to Rus
STA and joined the colony. They were
utterly disillusioned. they told Amer
lean authorities when. ragged and
almost penniless, they returned.
Doyle. his wife and their two sons
tried to stick it out, but when their
including hundreds
Of Americans. undertook to live the
free love" precepts of the Reds, the
family baked and came home.
Unknown to the Soviet govern
ment. the returning colonists
brought with them evidence which
local officials and the federal secret
service consider invaluable. accord
ing to the district attorney. He ex-
pressed a belief that the State de-
partment now has the name and adj
dress of every Russian agent in this
country and every important dissem-
inator of Red propaganda.
CosSrove surrendered tonight and
was released in $500 bond. Calvert
and Reese We're arrested at their
homes and placed in Jail pending
bond arrangements. Other detec-
tiyes. armed with bench warrants.
began a search for six others indi-
Gated.