The Bismarck tribune., 1931-11-13
MOUNTEDP0L|CEN[AN
OBTAINS EVIDENCE
IN 7-YEAR SEARCH
Joins Group and Serves as Off,
ciaI; Relates Experiences
on Stand
FLOG THREE IN MICHIGAN
vigiIante. Seize Alleged Reds
and Take Them to Woods
For Whipping
FLoe Three IN MICHIGAN

Eight Communists were convicted
Of seditious conspiracy at Toronto,
Canada, Thursday and three alleged
communist sympathizers were flogged
by vigilantes Thursday night at Pom
tiac, Mich, according to Associated
Press dispatches.
The red coat Of q Royal Canadian
mounted policeman was an iron1c
symbol to eight Canadian followers
OF the red flag who face sentence as
members Of an unlawful association
and parties to q seditious conspiracy.
They were convicted largely upon
the testimony of Sergeant John Leo
pold who doffed his coat seven
wears ago to sit In the councils Ct
Canadian communists and rise to an
official In the organization as COM
rade E. w. Esselwain."
The men convicted are Tim BUCK.
Tom Even, John Buychuk, Ans T.
Fill. Malcolm L. Bruce, Samuel
Cohen, Matthew Popvitch and
Thomas Cacie.
Sentences Imposed !.
Seven of the men were sentenced
to five years imprisonment each and
the eighth man to q two-year term.
The courts recommended deportation
of the seven most severely punished
when their terms expire.
Sergeant Leopold, clad again IN tine
uniform Of his outfit, told from the
witness stand how he had followed
the best tradition Of the mounties fer
patient, unrelenting pursuit OF their
quarry, by gathering first-hand ev1-
dence Of communist activities in Can
ada for seven years. He said he had
served as secretary Of the Regina
branch of the party and at one time
had been arrested In Toronto for TAX
ing part in communist demonstla-
ton.
The crown offered . mass Of docu-
ments seized in raids on communist
headquarters last August, contendlne
that it proved the Canadian COM
munists were financed from Moscow
and had as their object the over
throw of the government by force
and violence.
The conviction Of Buck and his
comrades was the climax Of To-
wear campaign by the Canadian gov
ernment to bring about q test OF tne
legality of the Communist party IN
the Dominion.
Heard Woman Scream
One of the men flogged at Pontiac
was quoted as saying he heard the
screams Of q woman who apparently
was receiving the same treatment
hut no woman was reported missing
and the belief was expressed that II
one were present, she was q MEMBER
of the vigilante band.
Authorities, who said the whippings
probably were the aftermath OF re-
cent unemployment demonstration IN
which more than score OF persons
were arrested after brush with OF.
ficers. were investigating to learn II
others had been seized.
Walter Hardin, Clarence SHERMAN
and Leo Fortin returned 10 tnelr
homes early Friday bearing MARKS OF
beatines. It was Hardin who SAID ne
heard q woman screaming nearby as
his captors beat him with the putt OF
a pistol. He said he would recognize
his assailants, although they were
hooded.
Nike stykoff, SO, also was abducted
as he was leaving a meeting. but SAID
he was released without mistreatment
when he convinced his Adnapers ne
was not q Communist.
Sherman, who has been . leader IN
a movement for increased RELIEF aiiot-
ments for unemployed; said he believ-
ed the men who took him from ms
home were policemen. At police head
quarters. however. It was denied
members Of the department had par
ticipated.
"The men wore police raincoats,'
Sherman said.