Evening star., 1938-09-29
THOMAS ROW UP
TO NEWARK Jury
Evidence About Election of
Socialist Will Go to
venire Shortly.
BY REX COLLIER,

The Department of Justice will let
Federal grand jury in Newark, N. j.,
decide whether the forcible removal
Of Socialist Leader Norman Thomas
from Jersey City last April 30. when
he attempted to speak in Journal
Square. constituted violation Of the
Federal kidnapping statutes.
Attorney General Cummings an
nounced late yesterday that evidence
collected by agents Of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation in connection
Nth the alleged "kidnaping" will be
sresented to a grand jury during the
week of October II. Mr.. Thomas
swore out kidnap warrants against
Two Jersey City police officers few
days after his election.
Investigation of Mr. Thomas ad-
ditional charges that Mayor Frank
Hague and other Jersey City authori-
ties violated Federal civil rights laws
is being continued, Mr. Cummings
said. Disposition of these charges will
not be decided until the inquiry is
completed "in the near future" it
was said.
Charged Law Violation.
Mr.. Thomas charged the "Lindbergh
law" was infringed when he was
seized by police in the square, placed
in a police automobile and put aboard
ferry bound for New York City He
had sought to make May Day"
speech without permit.
Mr.. Thomas became separated from
his wife, and about 40 minutes after
his election from the city he returned
in search of her Shortly thereafter
he dispatched demand to j. Edgar
Hoover, director of the F. B. l., that
action be taken against Mayor Hague
and the police under the kidnapping
laws.
On May Mr. Thomas appeared
before a United States commissioner
and filed formal kidnap complaint
against Deputy Police Chief John j.
Underwood and Inspector Henry
Gauthier. Three weeks later his at
torney, Arthur T. Vanderbilt, furnished
the Department of Justice with the
names of % persons who Mr.. Thomas
Said could testify in his behalf.
All the witnesses specified were sub
poenaed to appear before Federal
grand jury in Newark on July S, but
Mr.. Thomas protested that further
investigation should be made by the
Department of Justice. The grand
jury thereupon recommended that G.
torney General Cummings directed
Mr.. Hoover to make such an investi-
cation. The grand jury recessed pend
ing receipt of the F. B. I. report.
Demand for Ransom.
The grand jury apparently will be
given the task of deciding whether the
absence Of ransom demand in the
case places Mr.. Thomas charges out
side the scope of the kidnapping stat
ute. The law specifies that in addi-
ton to transportation of a person
across a State line, there must be a
demand of ransom or reward or
otherwise" In the Gooch case the
NOu1L ,SOl1Set uSu SaAAS RAiA oSS
broadly, holding that the abduction Of
q police officer by man seeking to
avoid arrest was kidnapping within
the meaning of the statute.
Mr.. Thomas was refused permis-
sion to speak on several later occa-
sions In Jersey City, but was granted
permit by nearby Newark. When he
appeared on a platform at an open
air meeting he was pelted with rotten
eggs and tomatoes and Newark police
thereupon disbanded the meeting. On
later date Mr.. Thomas spoke in New
ark without interruption.