Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-18
REEDH|TSSAP|RO
FEES IN FORD SUIT
Tells Jury of Thousands He
Says Were Obtained in
Cooperative Plan.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, March 18.--The thou
sands of dollars Aaron Sapiro was al
legged to have obtained from the CO
operative associations he organized
were listed for the jury today by Sen
ator James A. Reed in the million
dollar libel suit against Henry Ford.
The Senator who is defending the
automobile manufacturer against Sa'
piro, who claims his reputation was
injured by stories printed In Ford's
publication, the Dearborn Inde-
pendent, was hurrying to complete
his opening plea. He showed irrita-
ton at frequent Interruptions on the
part of the plaintiffs attorney,
William Henry Gallagher, and insisted
he was cutting the corners at every
opportunity.
Bearing in mind Sapiro's frequent
declarations of no desire for large re-
muneration in organizing these CO.
operative associations among the far
mers," said the Senator, II want to
tell you of some of the collections he
made"
The largest amount obtained, ac-
cording to Mr.. Reed, was $142 900
from the Tri.State Tobacco Associa-
ton. and the next largest figure was
total of $4S,00o from the Burley
Tobacco Association.
Other Alleged Deals.
The Senator said Sapiro obtained
$4,000 from the potato growers of
Colorado, 100000 from the dark to-
bacco growers of Kentucky and
$17,500 from the Maine Potato Co.
operative. In Oregon he received
$500 and from the Carolina Peanut
Growers $4,000, the defense attorney
said.
Attorney Gallagher read to the
court ruling made in the Michigan
Supreme Court on what should be
touched upon in an opening state
ment. Judge Fred M. Raymond said
he had had that decision in mind in
his frequent warnings to both at
torneys, and he believed the guilt was
equally divided in failure to comply
with his requests.
Sapiro's work among the California
prune and apricot growers. the Colo
RADIO and Idaho potato growers.
tobacco planters in Kentucky, and
peanut growers in Carolina were
taken up by the defense attorney.
I'm spite of the fact Sapiro repre-
sented himself as not being anxious
for money" said the Senator, "he
drew a salary of $4,000 year from
the California Prune and Apricot
Growers Association after organizing
them.
Idaho Activities Reviewed.
"The head Of the field department
got $4,000 and stenographer who
had been drawing $65 a month was
q 1.a n1o,- 1fcf Of
and his associates drew 5000 for
organizing the association and draw
ing up the articles Of incorpora tion
'Sapiro went into Idaho and sug
gested to Mortimer Stone, an attorney
there, that the local potato associa-
tions be organized into a State organ
ization, Stone and Sapiro to split the
fees. The two, although the growers
of that State objected to Sapiro's con-
nectiOn, finally perfected the organi-
cation. A contract was made with
We'll & Zuckerman, n San Francisco
commission house, to handle the po-
tatoes at S12 a car more than should
have been paid.
I'm Kentucky, when the members
of the Burley Association, actually
starving for lack of money, asked
permission to sell their tobacco on the
open market instead of handling 1t
through the company, Sapiro insisted
on holding them to their contracts"
1t appeared at noon recess that
Reed would be unable to complete his
opening plea until late afternoon at
the best and perhaps not until Mon
day. If held over until next week
the plea in all probability would pre-
vent Henry Ford from taking the
stand on Monday. as planned.
The Senator, however, said he was
making every effort to get through,
for he was anxious to get to Wash.
ington for a meeting of the Senate
investigation committee tomorrow.
Half an hour hour before the court
Continued on Page 4, Column 81