The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-30
PROBE OF CLAN
SPEEDED BY
GOVERNOR
All States Resources
Put Behind Inquiry
In Michigan
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN

DETROIT, May 80 u.N.SO.
Investigation of the Black Legion
resulted in a fourteenth arrest
today. It was that of Virgil
Morrow, a machinist, and he,
like 10 others, was held In con-
nection with the might ride" STAY
ing Of Charles A. Poole, WPA
worker, whose bullet-ridden body
was found May Is on a nearby
country road.
Black Legion members held in
the murder say three or more
carloads Of night riders left the
hall in Detroit the night Of the
killing to take Poole on his last
ride.
Only two cars arrived at the
scene of the shooting, however.
The raising of the Rouge River
bridge stopped the rest OF the
crowd and they were not present
when Poole was Sian.
Say Moore Was Driving
Morrow, according to police, was
driving one of the cars stopped
by the lifting Of the bridge.
Poole was murdered because he
beat his wife," a charge his wife
subsequently denied.
In the county Jail today are II
of the men under arrest, includ-
ing Dayton Dean, SO, the alleged
trigger man." Another man,
George johnson, 70, is in Receiving
Hospital suffering from nervous
disorder. The fourteenth man,
Morrow, was held at police head
quarters.
John Doe" warrants are out for
II others.
Gov. Frank D. Fitzgerald,
aroused by the reported terrorism
sweeping Michigan as a result Of
the Black Legion'S secret activi-
ties, has instructed Attorney Gen
eral David H. Crowley to put all
the resources Of the State behind
the campaign to wipe out the
black-hooded organization.
Hearing Tuesday
Crowley promptly got in touch
with Prosecutor Duncan c. Nc
Crea Of Wayne county, who has
been in charge Of the investiga-
ton. Crowley informed McCrea
his office would cooperate next
Tuesday when IL of the defend
ants are examined before Common
Pleas Judge Ralph w. Liddy and
added that he planned to visit the
prosecutor Monday to discuss a
plan of action.
Governor Fitzgerald announced
he would be available day and
night for assistance in the in
curry and he sent his general
secretary, Henry o. Weitschat to
Detroit to cooperate with the
authorities.
The Detroit police questioned
a number of persons concerning
the activities of secret organiza-
lions. Among those Intercepted
was Harold Dugas, "a, an ex-
pugilist, who organized a group
known as the "Combatants in the
Army Of the American Vigilantes
of the United States Of America"
Fight Communism
Dugas told the police the Amer
lean Vigilantes, unlike the Black
Legionnaires, are not opposed to
Catholicism. He said the Vigi-
lantes were organized to fight
Communism. He said:
ut makes my blood boil to
see Communists parade"
The authorities planned to re-
call Arthur F. Lupp, Black Legion
chief, for questioning about one
of the pistols alleged to have been
used by Dean, the "two-gun trig-
ger man" in the execution of
Poole. Dean was reported to have
told a detective that he purchased
a gun from Lupp five years ago.
Dean, however, denied he had
made any such statement.
Among the reports spread in the
Black Legion investigation was one
that a number of Detroit police
men were members of the Black
Legion.
Prosecutor McCrea told Interna-
tional News Service that his in
vestigation failed to incriminate a
single Detroit policeman, and he
expressed skepticiSm concerning
such rllmOrS.