Evening star., 1942-02-26

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BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Mrs. Norma Ward Lundeen, widow
of the Farmer-Labor Senator from
Minnesota who was killed in a plane
accident IS months ago, took the
stand as the first defense witness
at the Viereck German propaganda
trial late yesterday, defending her
husbands memory from the asser-
tions Of Government witnesses that
he collaborated with known agent
of the Reich in some of his speeches.
Mrs. Lundeen had not completed
her testimony at adjournment and
she will resume her recital at 10 am.
Monday, when the next session Of
the trial will be held. The case was
recessed for three days because of
judicial conferences which the pre-
siding justice, F. Dickinson Let's,
and other justices of the District
Court must attend.
In a firm voice that often was
raised with feeling, the widow.
dressed in black, depicted her huS-
band, so far as the courts interpre-
tation of the rules of evidence al
lowed her, as an ardent champion
OF America who was interested in
no other country and worked in
cessantly to keep the United States
out of the war.
Prosecution Objects.
Often the examination by Defense
Attorney Emil Morosini was inter-
rupted by objections from Special
Prosecutor William Power Maloney
to the line of testimony and fire.
quently these objections were sus-
tanned by Justice Let's.
Mrs. Lundeen said she had known
the defendant, George Sylvester
Viereck, three or four years and her
husband had known him a longer
period. Viereck, a registered Ger
man agent, is charged with failing
to describe his alleged propaganda
activities in registration statements
at the State Department in which
he listed himself only as IAN editor
and author" in the employ of Ger
man principals.
Vlereck, said the widow, visited
their Washington home a couple OF
times and she saw him in the Sen
ator's Office few times.
Did you ever hear Mr.. Viereck
make any suggestions that your hus-
band do anything un-American2"
asked Mr.. Morosini.
First Answer Stricken.
The witness said mo" and started
to say no such suggestions would
have been tolerated in that Office,
but the court sustained prosecution
objection, and the answer was
stricken from the record. But
a question as to whether Viereck
ever made any un-American re-
marks or suggestions in her pres
ence was allowed. and she said:
Never"
In reply to Government testimony
that Viereck had dictated a portion
of one speech which Senator Lun-
deem made, the defense brought
out from the widow that the Sena-
tor wrote his own speeches" He
did a vast amount of research, she
explained, and he could not do 1t all,
and so he relied on others for much
of it, though every fact and figure
was checked carefully.
Regarding a speech on German
American Elements" which, accord
ing to Government evidence, Vie
reck helped prepare, Mrs. Lundeen
said it was one of a series which
the Senator had projected, dealing
with different nationalities which
had contributed to America. He
already had delivered one on the
Swedish immigrants, she said, add
ing that the series was to deal with
those of foreign extraction who had
helped build this country to the
great nation it is today
Did you and your husband and
Mr.. Viereck discuss the speech on
German American elements?"
Yes" said the witness.
Mrs. Lundeen denied there was
anv "kickback" system in the Sena-
tors office, as two girls employed
there testified. They said they were
required to pay back a portion OF
their salaries to the Senator Mrs
I,undeen said there was reserve"
fund, to which some employees con-
tributed.