Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-15
EXCHANGE Of
ACCUSATIONS
At MEETING
Continued Prom Page u

| lSdllS III DIdWlCy dpoul WlNl
Glassford complained, insinuatine
that these men had been denied
representation by counsel, that the
punishment was too severe and that
their constitutional rights had been
violated, Heald said this morning
that this was not the case and out
lined just what had happened in
the Brawley court.
i He said that the evidence dis
closed that all of the Mexicans had
done nothing here in the valley ex-
cept carry on systematic scheme
of subyersive agitation against local
authorities and the farmers in the
county
Regarding the sentences passed
against these men Heald said he
l'had recommended that they be CIV
en- suspended sentences of six
months in the county Jail but two
of the defendants stood up in court
and said they did not want suspend
ed Jail terms and demanded the
court sentence them at once. Judge
Griffin then gave them four months
each in the county Jail.
Throughout this trial, Heald stat
ed, whatever delay was present was
caused by the defendants them
selves who twice had asked for time
in which to secure an attorney and
evidently had made but little ef-
fort to do so by the time the trial
was finally set for hearing.
To the accusation that all the
witnesses in this trial were biased or
prejudlced, Heald answered with the
statement that from any defend
ants point of view all witnesses
against him are biased.
In connection with a charge
which Heald said General Glassford
made last night to the effect that
nothing has been done in the
Besig case, the district attorney
declared he has served a notice
on Besig to appear before the grand
jury on July 2, at which time
Besig will be given full oppor-
tunity to make a statement. Heald
also stated that warrants have
been issued for the man answer
ing the description Besig gave of
his assailant and that as soon as
he is located he will be placed
under arrest.
Alvin N. Jack, president of the
Imperial Valley Growers and Ship
pers Protective association, and
George Swink, prominent northend
| grower, today sent the following
statement to The Press:
General Glassford's records and
statements in Imperial Valley are
such that any comment could moi
assist in the picturing of the man.
Commissioner Harrigan was in at
tendance at a conference in Los An
geles today and could not be reach
ed for statement.
General Glassford declared thai
he gave honest answers to ques.
tions put to him at last night.
conference, and charged that Com.
missioner Harrigan had not an
swered truthfully.
81 wish publicly to express ar
apology to Judge Thompson ane
District Attorney Heald for calling
them crooks, however my belief.
were confirmed that they are 81
closely allied with the shippers anc
growers and prejudiced agains
radicals as to be unable to givf
the latter fair trials" Glassforc
said.
THE official attitude to Imper'
ial county was expressed last nigh
by Chairman Graham of the boart
! of supervisors. when he SAID tina
the Communists have no rights un.
der the laws which the people o.
Imperial Valley are bound to re.
! spect for the Communists urge ov.
erthrow of the government by
/ force"
Statement by Glassford
A statement issued this after.
noon by General Glassford declar-
ed that attempts on his part to ex.
pose the policy of intimidation ano
! injustice to the laborers in Imper.
ial Valley has resulted in an effor'
being made to discredit him.
Relative to the charge that HI
had suggested arson, he explained
that two months ago it was report
ed the Agricultural and Cannery
Workers Union was going to burr
/. the headquarters of the Mexica,
union in Brawley. The genera
suggested in a spirit of jest that i
might be well to burn the shack
before the A. and c. w. U. did ane
that he would contribute $25 toward
building a new headquarters. Ht
asserted that Supervisor Osborne
who was present, laughed heartily
at the suggestion and recognized
it as joke.