The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-09
POLICE CHIEF is
SUED BY WORKER
FOR FALSE ARREST
Shows Bias in Favor of
Steel Trust Tool
BY A. JAKIRA.

PIIISBO hGH, "a, req. o.
"Ham" Brown, chief of Aliquippa
police, is sued for ten thousand dol
lars damages by Pete Muselin, of
Woodlawn, Pa. The action against
Brown was taken by Muselin after
Brown raided a meeting Of picnic
committee of the Woodlawn Croatian
Benefit Union and placed under arrest
several men found in the house. No
warrant was produced when the ar
rests took place, and all were released
after being in Jail for several hours.
The arrests took place on July 18th
last year. Muselin with the aid of
the International Labor Defense and
the American Civil Liberties Union
brought suit against the chief Of po-
lice.
Raise Religious Issue.
The case opened in Beaver County
court Friday, Feb. 4th. After the
jury was picked the attorneys called
upon Pete Muselin, the plaintiff in
the case, as the first witness. To the
great surprise of all Muselin was not
permitted to take the oath until he
answered questions as to his religious
beliefs.
The objections raised by Muselin's
attorneys We're overruled by the
Judge. Muselin was refused the right
to take the stand to testify in his own
behalf, procedure never heard of in
the courts even of Pennsylvania. The
next witness. Mrs. lima. was also
questioned about her religious be-
liefs. When she answered that she
believed in god, she was further asked
in what god she believed, and whether
she expected a punishment after she
died and if yes what punishment she
expected.
Judge Yields.
1t was only after the court adj
journey that the judge had to admit
that he made a mistake by permitting
such questions and promised to elm
mate the questions about religion in
the next sessions of the court.
Police Chief Drunk.
Pete Muselin was then. permitted to
take the witness stand on Saturday
morning and was subjected to a three
hour direct and cross examination.
He testified that "Ham" Brown raided
the meeting while he was intoxicated
and used a language which could not
be repeated in court, that four men
were handeuffed and that Brown said
that he needed no warrant.
Senator Craig, the attorney for
Brown, proceeded to prove that Muse
lin was a "BolsheSfk" and submitted
as evidence some Communist books
seized in the raids on Arnistice day.
A bust of Lenin was also introduced
as evidence. Mr.. Wilson, the attorney
for Muselin, objected vigorously
against using as evidence in this civil
case literature which was not found
during the illegal raid on July 7th,
but the Judge overruled the objection.
Muselin was then subjected to grill
ing in regards to his personal beliefs
about the overthrow of the American
government and the establishment of
a Soviet government in the United
States. The objections against these
questions were overruled by the judge.
Served u. S. Army.
Considerable excitement was caused
in court when Muselin under cross
examination stated that he had served
in the U. S. army during the war and
that he became a Communist after
he returned from France and after
he saw that the war was carried on
in the interests of the big business
and not for democracy.
An attempt to introduce as evil
dence the official tabulation of the
votes cast in the elections last No
venlber End showing that the Workers
Party was on the ballot in this state
was overruled by te judge, who con-
tinually took the side of Hamilton
Brown.
Trial Adjourned.
The court adjourned at II noon on
Saturday and will continue the case
next week. A large number Of wit
nesses are expected to be called in
by both sides. is the first case of
it's kind in Pennsylvania, attempting
to stop the iron rule. of the steel and
coal trust in this state. Two other
suits for damages are pending in
court against the same "Ham"
Brown as the result Of the false ar
rest on July seventh.