The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-27
COMMUNIST TRIAL
AT BEAVER ENDS;
STEEL co. AFFAIR
Jones & Laughlin Police
Bride Witnesses

PITTSBURGH, Pa, June 26. II
The four Woodlawn Communists,
tried on trumped-up charges of "se-
dition," were found guilty last night
after a two hour jury session.
Although defense attorney Wilson
had pointed out in the course of the
trial that the police force of Jones
and Laughlin, giant steel Corporation,
was backing the prosecution, that the
captain Of the force had attempted to
bride witnesses and that certain evil
dence has been altered and forged by
the Woodlawn police, the steel barons
succeeded in convicting the four on
three trumped-up sedition charges.
After filing a motion for a new
trial, the defendants were released on
$4,000 bail apiece. Wilson summing
up for the defense pointed out that
the prosecution had failed to prove
a single point of the indictment.
Disregards Law.
In his appeal to the jury, prosecute
ing attorney Craig demanded the con-
viction of the men on the ground that
they were Communists. Completely
disregarding the technologies Of the
law, he made the issue one Of Com
munism versus capitalism.
Pete Muselin, one Of the defend-
ants, faces a new trial tomorrow on
framed-up liquor charge, which IS
the result Of the general campaign Of
terror waged in Woodlawn by the
steel barons.
Resetar and Muselin occupied wit
ness stand entire day, yesterday
Evidence submitted by prosecution
proved so weak that even Judge Nc
Connell, who showed extreme intol-
erance to defendants during entire
trial, had TO announce at close of
session after jury had been excused
for the night that three out Of six
counts with which defendants are
charged will be dropped and only two
counts submitted to jury for decision.
These two counts deal with distribu-
ton of literature and teaching or ad-
vocating sediticn. One of four
counts dropped by the court includes
membership in the Workers (Com-
munist) Party.
The Flynn Sedition Act makes
crime Of Joining or becoming a
member Of a seditious organization"
but does not make crime member
ship itself The law also specifies
that defendants cannot be tried if
crime was committed two or more
years prior to the filing of an indict-
ment.
Party Membership A Crime.
1t was established IT, I'll four de-
PENDANTS joined Workc (Commun-
ist) Party much earlier than the re-
CURED two year period. This count is
therefore dropped by the court re-
CARELESS Of whether Workers Party
is seditious or not.
Heated and continuous clashes be-
tween the defense and prosecution
continued during entire day, Judge
Mcconnell in all instances ruling
against defense and in favor of
prosecution.
The evidence Of prosecution con-
sists largely of bundle Of Creation
calendars found in Resetar's home
and published in Chicago by the
Workers Publishing Company, The
Workers Monthly, especially issue Of
last July, bundle of pamphlets pub
lshed by julius Haldeman, and a
book Of red cartoons sent to Resetar
by DAILY WORKER as premium
for subscription manifesto of Karl
Marx.
Describes War Experiences.
Muselin testified that he is a mem.
Der of the Workers Party, believes in
dictatorship of proletariat, the Soviet
form Of government and explained
that It is the ousted ruling class that
is resorting to force and violence
compelling the workers and farmers
to defend themselves. His testimony
about his experiences in the United
States army in France during the
world war; which he characterized as
imperialst war for plumber, attracted
much attention. The question of
whether the first American flag
which was reproduced on cover of
last July's issue of Workers Monthly
was red or white caused heated con-
troversy between defense and prose-
cution and court was compelled to
bring from library old dusty volum-
inous dictionary Of English language
which was shown TO jury for COM
parison with reproduction in Workers