Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-19
FISH raid" STAGED
TO FIND RED DATA
Baltimore Visit of Represent
ative and Officers Explained
by Secretary.

The alleged fruitless raid" by Rep
resentative Hamilton Fish of New York,
chairman Of the House Communist In
vestigating Committee, on q Baltimore
warehouse yesterday was not raid at
all, but brief visit" to the place by
Mr.. Fish at the urgent invitation Of
certain prominent Baltimore lawyers,
who contended that important Com
munist documents were stored there.
This, ut least, was the explanation Of
the mysterious incident given at the
House once Building today by Walter
L. Reynolds, secretary of Representative
Fish's committee. Reynolds said he
accompanied the committee chairman
on the "visit."
The secretary declared the committee
would take no further interest in the
search for the reported documents, and
he said IL was the chairman's opinion
in the first place that the papers, If
found, would prove to be relatively TN
important.
Has Similar Circulars.
"They are probably Just Communist
circulars and similar papers, of which
the committee already has an aburd-
ance." Reynolds stated. IF the papers
are found, I'm sure Mr.. Fish will be glad
to look them over, but he isn't going to
waste any time looking for them"
The so-called raid" was conducted
in the rear of large warehouse on
West Lexington street. in the presence
Of guard of Baltimore policemen. J.
Edgar Hoover, director Of the United
States Bureau of Investigation, today
denied reports that his agents took part
In the inquiry yesterday.
Lawyers Were Urgent.
Several prominent Baltimore lawyers
told Mr.. Fish they knew of some docu-
interest to the committee in It's Com
munist investigation" Reynolds said,
mr.. Fish told them he would be glad
to look at them If they brought them to
but the lawyers explained
It was not possible to take them away
from Baltimore, and we're very urgent
IN their request that Mr.. Fish 90 to
Baltimore to see them.
These lawyers are well known and
citizens there, and they evil
IDENTIFY were of the opinion that the
papers were very important. Mr.. Fish
insisted he would not have time to 60
to Baltimore, as he had to 60 to New
York yesterday, but the lawyers sug-
gested that he stop over in Baltimore
for half an hour.
available, and that the parties who
had them in their possession would be
glad to show them to US. Neither Mr..
Fish nor knew anything about their
or the conditions under which
they were stored, except that, be-
lieve, q receipt Of some kind was pro-
duced. I don't know whose name was
on the receipt.
Papers Are Not Found.
''Mr. Fish and I went to Baltimore
and we were taken to the building
where the papers were supposed to be
stored. But there weren't any papers
there. When they could not be found
Mr.. Fish was impatient and departed
quickly TO catch the train for New
York. That is all we know about it,
Reynolds ridicltled reports that the
papers were ones which had been
Stolen from the House Committee, as
limited IN q published report. He said
no papers are missing from the COM
mittee's files, so far as Is known.
Reynolds said he had no knowledge
Of any connection with the incident
hat CASTOR B. Means or Norman 8.
Bowles may have had. Dispatches from
Baltimore today quoted the warehouse
as declaring the receipt shown
him by Mr.. Fish was signed by Bowles,
ocal attorney, whose disbarment Is UNI
der appeal in the courts here. The
said that Bowles and Means
had visited the warehouse last week to
discuss arrangements for storing some
runks, but declared the trunks never
arrived. Means is a former agent Of
he Department Of Justice, former
inmate Of Atlanta Penitentiary and
author Of sensational book on Presi-
lent Harding.
Means Not Subpoenaed.
The committee secretary denied re-
oorts that Means is under subpoena to
appear as O witness before the Fish
Committee. The reports asserted that
Means had been investigating Commu-
mist activities for q New York league,
In official Of which later refiuted the
statement.
REYNOLDS declined to divulge the names
u the Baltimore attorneys who invited
Chairman Fish to come to their city.
He said they were "just trying to help
The committee in It's work"
At the Commodore Hotel here It was
laid today that Means is registered
here, but was "out."
Warehouse Managers Version.
Adolph Myers, manager of the ware
house, today told Baltimore reporters
The following story:
ION Thursday Of last week a man
came here and asked me questions about
The conditions under which we took
material for storage. told him and
he left the place, giving me card
1earing the name Of @. B. Means, Com
nodore Hotel, Washington.
showed him the card. oh, yes said
he, That's CASTOR B. Means Means
1ad told me that he had some trunks
and crates stored at Laurel which he
wanted to store here. He obtained from
me some storage blanks.
Means Returned Later.
'Last Saturday Means came back
again and met Mr. Bowlcs here. Then
Mr.. Fish came with other
gentlemen and they searched the build
ng. Mr.. Fish had receipt for certain
articles supposed to have been stored
here by @. 3. Means. The receipt was
signed by Norman S. Bowles. They
hunted for the stuff but did not find It.
They said they were coming back again
today. and am waiting for them, but
hey won't find it. 1t has not come in
1ere"
Police Commissioner Charles D.
Gather OF Baltimore said today he had
40 idea what Representative Fish and
hose who accompanied him we're look
ng for. He said he was merely asked
% send some police to the warehouse
% take care Of any disorder which
night arise. He was not told what the
earch was for and did not ask TTe