Evening star., 1937-01-28
DETECTIVE FLAYED
AT spy HEARING
Posed as Agent of U. S. Gov.
ernment, Workers Off,
ciaI Charges.
RY InHN C. HENRY.

yellow; I've waited long time
for this"
Rigby's Identification followed his
testimony that Burnside, alias Bron-
son, alias Brunswick and numerous
other names by his own admission,
had come to his home in search OF
information in labor conditions in the
Toledo plant of the Electric Auto-Lite
Co.
Burnside, then using the name Of
Bronson, represented himself as a rep
resentative Of the N. r. A. and offered
Rigby $40 weekly for the desired in
formation, Rigby said. Thinking
Burnside was a Government official,
Rigby submitted weekly reports for a
month, but then realized he had been
framed" he testified.
Fondly Thinks Of Tar, Feathers.
''The next time he came to my
home I told him I'd get him." Rigby
testified passionately. Now I'm doing
It,"
"You don't mean physical violence
do you?" asked Senator Thomas of
Utah.
NO" Rigby answered, then said as
an afterthought: But some tar and
feathers would 60 good"
At this point, the committee called
Burnside, o witness last September in
earlier hearings, to the stand.
'Is that the man you knew as Bron-
SOM" Thomas asked Rigby.
YES" Rigby answered. as he glared
at the husky agent, "and I tell you
John Dillinger had greater respect for
decent people than this man."
Burnside then denied the charge OF
Misrepresentation, but admitted try
ing to make a detective" Of Rigby.
Asked About Code Violations.
II told him I represented certain
people, but was not free to say who"
Burnside testified. He said, however,
that he had asked Rigby for instances
Of code violations.
Burnside identified himself as
assistant superintendent of Pinker-
tons Detroit Office, a position which
he described as lone of the lowest
off1cials-not speaking in a funny
way" His Office has accounts with
General Motors and Libby Owens
Ford Plate Glass Co., Burnside said.
Docs Pinkerton have any arrange
ment to report to General Motors on
their findings in Libby Owens-Ford?"
Thomas asked.
II don't believe so, unless In q gen.
eral way" Burnside answered.
Questioning then revealed that he
had sought to employ one Charles
Forwick, a union official in the Libby
Owens-Ford plant.
Furey's Spy Efforts Told.
Previously, the committee heard tes-
ttmony and afddavits concerning the
espionage and union sabotaging ef-
forts OF one Bart Furey. identified as
an operative of Corporations Autku-
iaries in the Auto-Lite plant. Furey
entered the plant in 1884, Joined the
u. A. W. local, became an official and
then attempted to break the organiza-
tion, the evidence showed.
One OF the afidavits was FROM
Mrs. Edith Roberts, union member,
who said Furey asked her to become
traitoress to the union and, when she
refused, said: "You keep your mouth
shut about this"
Another afidavit Was submitted BY
Homer Martin, U. A. w. president.
J. M. Smith, Corporation Auxil-
iaries president, and Dan G. Ross.
general manager, were on the stand
as this testimony was unfolded.
Reluctant to Tell Identities.
As counsel for Ross objected TO
disclosing to the committee the identi-
ties of certain undercover agents,
Senator Thomas asked the witnesses
II they were willing to admit that
espionage work was damaging to per-
sons involved.
1T makes them virtual outcasts,"
Ross admitted. "I'll admit 1t Is dam
aging to individuals-when they are
found out. They incur possibilities
Of violence and injury"
Establishing the fact that the agents
involved were men of sufficient re-
eponsibility to know in what business
they were engaged, Senator Thomas
demanded the names be turned over.
After some further slight delay tele-
gram with the identities was sub
mitted. Three men were listed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Investigating
Committee is preparing to rally its
Capitol Hill supporters during the
next few days in desperate battle
to prevent hamStringing through lack
Of funds.
Two battle fronts already are drawn,
one Of them being over Senate action
on a resolution calling for $4,000 to
continue the inquiry, and the second
being over a rider attached in the
House to the deficiency bill by which
the borrowing Of employees would be
prevented.
Resolution by Thomas.
Passage Of the $4,000 resolution
would remove any immediate threat
to the investigation through the rider.
introduced yesterday by Senator
Thomas, the resolution was re-
ferred to the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor. After action by
that full group 1t will 60 to the Com
mittee on Audit and Control before
being reported back to the Senate.
At the same time, Senator Thomas
said last night, efforts will be made to
eliminate the House rider to the ap-
preparation bill. With only $4,000
ss It's original appropriation, the COM
mittee has accomplished most Of its
investigation thus far through dor
rowed" agents from the National Labor
Relations Board.