The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-06-20
STEEL WORKERS CON-
VICTED UNDER PENN.
.SEDTTION ACT WERE
FRAMED, SAYS UNION

FRAMED, SAYS UNION
Charges that the steel corporations
of Western Pennsylvania, Depart
ment of Justice agents, and the Ku
-Klux Khan combined Ito railroad
steel workers to prison for their radi-
cal ideas" were made today in a
statement issued by the American
Civil Liberties Union on the recent
sedition act conviction in Mercer, Pa,
of Tony KovaccWioh, member Of the
Workers Party. The Union will back
an appeal of the case in the higher
courts, according to the statement.
'The trial was conducted under in
timidation by the Ku KluX Khan,
which painted its sign along the roads
around the courthouse, and on all the
roads leading up to Mercer" the
Unions statement declares. "Kova-
c0vich was convicted on the testimony
of Serbian nationalists inspired by re-
dictionary priests who alleged that the
Workers Party is opposed to religion,
and on the testimony of Department
of Justice agent, Henry J. Lennon,
who has been active in the prosecu-
ticn of radicals in Pittsburgh and
McKeespOrt. Former assistant dis
trict attorney Meyer of Pittsburgh,
who has a record for radical prOseCu-
lions. assisted in the prosecution eff
KOvacovich, though he now holds no
public Office. Meyer was also active
in the Pittsburgh May Day indictment
/ last year and in the McKeeSpCTt free
speech case"
Kovacovich, who has worked in the
Pennsylvania steel mills for over 10
1 years, is one of the six Workers Par
/ ty. members arrested on Feb. 18th, in
raid by the local police of Farrell
and held on charges on seditiOn
"sOlely for having radical literature
in their homes" according to the
Union He was convicted en- seven
out Of>the eight counts Of the Penn
membership in the Workers Party
despite the ruling of the Court that
the party was not en- trial. He is put
on $4,000 cash bail pending appeal OF
his case by on trial. He is out on
$4,000 cash bail pending appeal OF
his case by Attorney l. E. Ferguson
and Attorney Benjamin H. Marks
The other five cases are scheduled tC
come up on June % at Mercer, Pa
/ The facts in the case as given out by
the Civil Liberties Union are as fol
lows:
con Lincoln's Birthday the police
of Farrell acting under the personal
supervision of Chief Leyshock, raideC
several homes, seized quantity Of
literature and arrested six men, fou
of them members of the Workers Par
ty and two unaffiliated One O.
these men, Tony Kovacovich, wa
convicted May 10 in Mercer COUNTY
under the Flynn Sedition Act O
Pennsylvania.
''The raids were conducted withou
warrants. None Of the men wer
charged with any overt act or ever
with making radical speeches. At tn
preliminary hearings held before Pc
lice Judge Joseph A. Franek on Fet
10, Police Chief Leyshock made tn
following admissions:
q. The defendants as individual
did not commit any unlawful act, 0
make any speeches Of any kind, 0
distribute literature.
d
, ing Workers Party literature in thei
homes, and belonging to the party.
. 3. Their homes were raided an
the literature seized without wal
rants.
a. The police chief could not rea
the literature, which was printed i
Croatian and recognized as legal b
the United States Post Office Depart
ment. He did not know what it cor
tanned when he arrested the men.
IS. He did not know accuratel
the nature or purposes Of the Work
ers Party.
"6. He was in the habit of breal
ing up all Workers Party meeting
every time they were held for 'bein
E radicals. although ne couldn't r,
member what was said at these meet
: ings.
> despite these admissions by Chic
q of Police LeyshOck, the defendant
were bound over for trial, and one
: them was convicted on May 10. tt
{ trial of Kovacovich brought out sui
5 substantially the same facts. He We
indicted under all the eight counts {
4 the Pennsylvania sedition law, vet n
I definite action, speech, or writing. {
even the distribution of literatul
: was charged against him in the il
: dictment. Merely the general Ian
: guage of the act was used. Later or
: of the counts was withdrawn. Kov;
; cOvich was convicted on the remain
ing seven counts on the evidence {
witnesses of doubtful standing tn;
he had made alleged seditious n
9 marks; and on the testimony of D,
partment of Justice agent Henry
: Lennon as to the activities of II
Workers Party. Kovacovich We
clearly convicted not for anv a,
which he committed, but merely fl
membership in a radical organic;