The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-25
BOSTON STORE
and COPS FAIL
TO DEPORT REDS
Released After TwO
Days in Jail

The three members of the Young
Workers League arrested Satur-
day evening for distributing leaflets In
front of the Boston Store, were finally
released at 1880 p. m. yesterday on
bonds of $4,000 apiece after the 5os-
ton store, with the active cooperation
of the police officials of the central
district, had unnecessarily attempted
to hold the Communists for deporta-
ton.
Valerie Meltz, Joseph Plotkin and
Benjamin Fogel, all members of the
Young Workers League, were booked
on charges of "disorderly conduct"
after Edward Quinn, in charge of the
police who made the arrests, refused
for two days to book them, declaring
they were "held for the government"
The comrades were ordered to ap-
pear in night court last night.
Altho the lieutenant at the LaSalle
st. police station had told the DAILY
WORKER reporter on Sunday, that
the three Communists would be re-
leased on bonds at nine o'clock yes
terday morning Quinn did not put in
an appearance until ten o'clock.
Seeks Deportation.
Quinn refused to book the Reds on
any charge until he had talked to the
department of justice agents at the
federal building. Accompanied by the
DAILY WORKER reporter and
George Maurer, secretary Of the La
Dor Defense Council, Quinn took the
evidence" against the three Commun-
lists, consisting of the bulletins which
exposed the long hours, small pay,
speed up system and fines inflicted
on the employees of the Boston store,
. and a few personal letters taken from
them, to the bureau of investigation
Of the department Of justice in Room
SIS Of the federal building.
The federal detectives, however,
could find nothing in the letters or
leaflets which advocated violent
overthrow of the government" and
refused to hold the comrades on a
federal charge.
Still Quinn was reluctant to sign
the complaint against the Commun-
lists. II don't want to be holding
the bag" he told the DAILY WORK
Err reporter. "Ill make the Boston
store sign the. complaint. They're
the ones who insisted on the arrests"
Boston Store Behind Arrests.
Quinn then made his way to the
Boston Store, Madison and State St.,
and while the DAILY WORKER re-
porter waited, urged the managers of
the Bostone store to sign the COM
plant. This they refused to do, in
sisting, however, that the comrades
be booked. 'They don't want to sign
the complaint" Quinn said, because
they don't want to get mixed up in
lawsuits. They're pretty sore about
those leaflets"
Quinn then returned to the LaSalle
st. station, $50 N. LaSalle st. and
agreed to book the Communists. They
were charged however, not with dis
tributing leaflets, but "disorderly con-
duct"
The Young Workers League mem
bers were ordered to appear in night
court last night, room 1928, city hall.
The desk lieutenant of the central dis
trict said they would no doubt be dis
missed. 1--WE have to ask bail and
book them in order to keep our record
clear" he admitted. you know we
kept them such a long time they have
to be booked"
Put Six in Cell.
Comrades Plotkin and Fogel were
at first put in a cell with a man who
had delirium tremens. Sunday night
they were six in a cell, and had nc
room to lie down thru the night. TIL
bread, Comrade Plotkin said, wa
sour flour mixed with water and hard
ened. The food consisted Of a smelly
bologny sandwich.
During a part Of Sunday night thu
two Young Workers League members
had as their cell mate, Julius Weis
berg, who had killed the bootlegger
Morris Goldman, in front of the Pal
ace Theater. Weisberg admitted the
killing, but declared he shot in self
defense.
Valerie Meltz was taken to the DO
lice station at Harrison and Clark
SITS