The Washington times., 1936-05-28
M'CREA WIRES
APPEAL TO
CUMMINGS
Action Taken As New
Rumors Of FIoggings
Gain Circulation
Continued from Page u

stantial amount of money at a
meeting to lobby for repeal OF
some law in Lansing" ProSecu-
tor owen Dudley reported the in
formation, and at the same time,
said he was told that a Detroit poll
tician had been endorsed by the
terrorists for attorney general"
Dudley said, however:
"This witness didn't know
the name of the candidate"
Assertedly helpless because OF
legal boundaries, several agencies
have added their voices in an ap-
peal for help of Omen, while vic
Tins of floggings are coming for
ward with their secrets" long
guarded, they say, because they
feared repriSals at the hands of
the Black Legion. In Pontiac, Lyle
Tabor, member of the newly or
ganized "citizens committee" Sug-
gested a Federal Grand Jury be
called to serve as a clearing
house, for the rumors and evil
dence regarding crimes laid at the
door OF Lne nlgnC rlQeFS.
Admits Lack of Facts
While authorities are convinced
the Black Legion is not limited to
State lines, they admit lack OF
facts to warrant, immediate inter
vention of the G-men. Prosecutor
McCrea, in his telegraphed appeal
to Attorney General Homer S.
Cummings in Washington, said he
was basing the call for help on in
formation he has the cult is operat-
ing in at least is States, and
reaches as far as New York and
into Indiana and Chicago.
In several cases, anonymous let
ters have linked the clans opera
tions in Chicago and other cities.
One unknown writer from Chi
cago wrote the prosecutor here
that the cultists were operating
there and had thrown victims in
the Chicago canal. From Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, came an anonymous
letter declaring the Black Legion
was "flourishing" there.
While authorities consider the
possibility they are crank" let.
ters, they say they are checking
every angle, however apparently
fantastic. which might link the
master minds" of the cult, which
it Is reported has a membership
running as high as 100000.
Twelve of the purported ter
roristS were brought into court
here under heavy guard yester.
day for examination on murder
charges in connection with the
death of Charles A. Poole, who
was taken for a ride and slain
May 13 by one of the outlaw
bands. Their examination was
continued until next Tuesday
when McCrea promised to have
more witnesses and additional
defendants.
Shortly afterward, Michigan At
torney General David Crowley
came here from Lansing and filed
the petition asking for a one-man
grand jury probe presided over
by circuit court judge. The is
county judges, sitting as body,
were to pass on the petition today.
Leaves for Jackson
Crowley then left for Jackson,
where a one-man grand jury
probe already is underway. In
Jackson four men are under
arrest, a fifth was in technical
custody and members of the Jack
son State prison guard force have
been dismissed for the alleged
flogging of Harley Smith, a WPA
worker.
There, Mrs. Mary Carver said
her husband, Denver, AZ, had been
forced to join the hooded cult and
flogged when he tried to quit.
Carter refused to talk. Mrs. Car
ter said "he fears for his life"
The fatal flogging of Prison Guard
Paul Every there also was being
investigated