San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11

IlVltleS 10 the tMU SOfSiH
ments.
/ had to go through the
strange proceeding of ap-
pearing practically as a
lawyer for an accused man before a
secret New York Communist tribunal.
held in the offices Of Ludwig c. 4. h.
Martens. the Soviet government rep
rcsenfatiye in the United States. The
defendant was accused of being a spy
for the United States Secret Service.
The whole affair was a most inter.
estinr insight into the methods OF
dealing with Communists by the
American and British governments,
and the Communists methods OF coun-
tefattacks.
The name Of Louis c. Fraina will,
l think. be recalled by nearly every
body who remembers the Bolshevist
scare in this country after the war.
Fraina was watched night and day
BIZ the government His name was
constantly in the newspapers, and ne
was considered a dangerous suspect.
SHOCKED By CHARGES
While working for Mr.. Henry W.
Marsh. the New York capitalist, l
had schemed to get to the Third In
fernational in order to ascertain its
real anti-capitalistic secrets and pro-
gram. Both Fraina and ] were ap-
appointed by the Communist Party of
America to 20 as delegates. j had
my original credentials from the Com
munist Party of Moscow, which got
me into the heart Of things here.
Imagine my astonishment when ]
was informed two days before that
date set for sailing that Fraina was
mot to leave the country until he had
<met secret charges that he was secret
sly working for the United States
Secret Service and was in its pay.
This charge caused a tremendous SEN
,sation among the Communists because
Fraina was one Of the best known
: and most active Communists.
/ would have been much less sur
tprised If my connection with the gov
iernment had become known. That
sFraina, q genuine Communist, should
be hauled I'D On such a charge was
10 me Int luuLttrl lllHt WI tdA1h. DAN
Il had TO take it seriously.
The charges were made BY Santeri
Nuorteva, secretary of the Russian
Soviet bureau in New York City. This
made it all the worse, because Mar
tens, the very head of the Soviet move
ment in America. must have examined
the evidence and sanctioned the chargn.
! WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.
! Nuorteva, it appears, made his
charges on information given TO him
BY Ferdinand Peterson, a Communist
! working for the Department of Jus
: fice, presumably spying on Nuorteva,
but in fact friend Of Nuorteva. The
latter was said 10 have told Peterson.
Finn, the purport of the reports be
had TO make to the Department of JUS
tice about himself. So you can see
there were wheels within wheels; the
/, two sides were constantly spying on
each other.
: You may think this sort Of thing
= only exists in the minds OF fiction
/. writers. but see from what fellows in
(. these chapters how much stranger
truth is than fiction.
! The charges against Fraina were
first made by Nuorteva right after the
(. Lusk legislative committee, which was
: active in those days, had raided the
headquarters of the Communists IN
Z New York City.
The trial was unusual in many
ways. was assigned TO defend
Fraina and the trial was held in the
= large conference room Of the Russian
Soviet headquarters on Forfeit
s street, near sixth avenue, New YORK
: City. The headquarters was a finely
furnished suite Of about seven rooms
Martens, who was the genuine Soviet
ambassador, was present In the ties
7 timony that was taken, he was mos;
; frequently referred TO as Comrade u
CHARGES GRAVE.
A great many Of the party leaders
including Houdin, Weinstein, Nour
teya. Loyestone, Bttleman and others
were present and all looked very grave
because if il could be proved tha
Fraina was guilty Of the charges tn
results were very likely TO prove costly
TO him in more ways than one.
We were all seated around the BIZ
table. Several good friends were wit
Fraina. At the very outset some o
them wanted TO bar me from the pro
ceedings. perhaps because / had til
!. reputation Of being a good cross-exam
! iner. II is possible that they had ais
> learned that j was going to try TO ge
kuorteya in trouble by showing thu
be had persuaded Peterson 70 join III
I United States Department Of Justic
; forces for his Owp purposes.
QUOTES OFFICIAL RECORD.
! will quote directly or give a sum
: mary from the stenographic minute
. OF the trial taken by the Soviet stenog
1 rapher. get three copies of this re
port. One was sent TO Moscow, on
] turned over 20 the Department o
Jnstice and the third / took TO th
Third International. u is well TO re
member that in the minutes ID. ]
means Department Of Justice, c. I
Communist party and NJ. mean Mar
. tens.
After considerable argument owe
my presence at the hearing, was al