The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-25
POLICE DOCTORED
PAPERS IN TRIAL
OF 4 COMMUNISTS
Read Party Resolutions
In "Sedition" Trial
By A. JAKIRA.

I'll lSbOhGI1y ia, june 60
Steve Bratich, Tom Zina, and Milan
Resiter, three of the four defendants
now on trial for sedition in Beaver,
were called to the stand today by
the defence.
Resitar, who occupied the stand
half the day, and who will be cross
examined tomorrow, testified that
he is a member Of the Workers Com
munist) Party and explained under
direct and cross examination tn e
principles and policies of the Party.
Reads Party Resolutions.
Attorney Wilson, after vigorous
objection on the part of the prosecu-
ton which were overruled by Judge
Mcconnell, read to the jury and the
packed court room, the full resolu-
ton adopted at the last convention
Of the Workers Party and published
in pamphlet form.
That the prosecution fixed the
records of the Woodlawn street
nucleus which were seized during the
raid Of November 18th last year was
charged by Resetar.
The names of three workers who
have never been members of the
Workers (Communist) Party were
added by the police to the member
ship lists. The additions were made
by typewriter other from Resetar's.
Other changes in the records were
also pointed out.
The prosecution from the begin
ming of the trial referred quite fire.
quently to a pamphlet "Blood and
Steel" trying to create the inn
preston that the pamphlet was CON
nected with the alleged attempts to
blow up the Jones and Laughlin
steel mills.
This maneuver was smashed when
the defence introduced the pamphlet
as evidence and when Resetar pointed
out that the pamphlet is a statement
of the brutal conditions in the steel
mills which are responsible for the
preventable deaths Of thousands of
workers.
Karl Marks Communist Mani
festo" was continually referred to by
the prosecution to show that Com
munist doctrines are "seditious." At
tempts were also made by the prose-
cution to show that the Croatian
Benefit Union is a Communist organ
ization.
Aided Russian Relief.
/ Muselin. Resetar and lima are ac-
tive members and officers of the
Woodlawn branch of the society.
Prosecuting attorney Craig charged
that this society had several years
ago contributed $1,000 to "aid in
the establishment of a Soviet Re-
public in Russia"
The defence easily proved that
United States Government agencies
had sent millions Of dollars to the
Soviet Union for the purpose as the
Croatian Benefit Society-namely
for famine relief.
i It was also brought out in today:
session that one of the witnesses whC
testified that the defendants haC
preached "bloodshed and dynamite
was involved in a financial scandal il
the Woodlawn Croatian lodge. H,
attempted to withdraw $1,000 of thu
soeiety's money for his own purpose
without the knowledge of the mem
bership.
Witnesses Biased.
Muselin and lima, officers of tn
; society, prevented the embezzlement
He then made threats that che woul
get them yet"
. Another witness, the defenc
! showed, had been driven out from hi
{ house by lima, which he had rente
f from lima, because, neighbors com
! planned about his conduct. He ais
D promised lima that he would &c
' revenge"
During the day continual clashe
. took place between the attorney TO
> the defence and the prosecuting at
torney, the defence demanding tn
I dismissal of the jury and new tria
' The case will probably close to
' morrow.