Imperial Valley press., 1935-02-19
MAN BEATEN
IN OUTBREAK
At BRAW[EY
Five Strikers Under Arrest
For Alleged Attack Upon
Steven Gerard
CITY'S SHEDS OPERATING
Radical Organization Sends
Letter To Sheriff Protesting
Reign Of Terror
CITY'S SHEDS OPERATING

With lettuce strike activities in Ell
Centro reduced to a minimum to-
day, violence broke out in Brawley
this morning with the result that
one man was taken to the hospital
suffering from badly bruised head
while five strikers were arrested and
booked at Brawley police headquar-
tiers on charges of battery.
According to the report received
here, Steven A. Gerard, %, mem
Der of the well-known shipping
company with headquarters in
Brawley, was set upon by five strik-
ers this morning and severely beat
en-. He suffered a broken nose and
other injuries about the head, in
flicted, the report states when his
assailants kicked him while on the
ground.
Gerard was on his way from the
Dunlack hotel to the packing shed
of the company when the five men
are said to have jumped upon him
and beat him. A truck rdiver for the
company whose name was not
learned was passing the scene and
ran to the assistance of Gerard. He
waded into the fight and held the
men at bay until the arrival of po-
lice.
Clifford Wilson, James Patton, II.
L. Walker, Erwin Grin and C. A.
Broughton, said to be striking shed
workers in Brawley, were arrested
and charged with battery following
the attack on Gerard
Rumors reached here this morn
ing that officials of the American
Civil Liberties Union which played
such prominent part in the labor
disturbances here last winter were
again preparing to enter the present
dispute.
Inquiries at the county Jail show
ed that no representatives of this
organization have as yet made their
appearance here in behalf of the
strikers. On the other hand a let
ter was received at the sheriff's Of
flee this morning from the Inter-
national Labor Defense, Los Angeles.
signed by Pettis Perry, president of
the organization.
This letter protests against the
reign of terror" being carried on in
the valley at present against work
ers; demands that the rights of all
workers be respected and consider
ed; demands the release of all per-
sons arrested for strike activities
and makes particular demands for
the immediate release of Emma
Cutler, now serving term in the
county Jail for her activities in the
strike disturbance here last winter.
"The strikers are determined to
fight right through the remainder
of the season If they have to walk
out of town afterwards" G. B.
Lawrence, secretary of the Fruit
and Vegetable Workers union stat
ed this morning in reference to the
strike now being conducted by that
organization in lettuce packing
sheds of the valley. In making
this statement Lawrence said he
was but quoting the sentiments
which have been repeated to him
continually by the strikers during
the past few days.
c. B. Moore, secretary-manager
of the Western Growers Protective
association stated that the situa-
ton appears satisfactory at present
from the shippers point of view.
He said that all the sheds are now
operating, many of them with COM
plete crews and that shipments OF
lettuce are on the increase.
No outbreaks or disturbances
were reported last night either to
the sheriff's office or police head
quarters, indicating that for the
present at least a truce has been
declared between strikers and ship
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