Evening star., 1942-02-20

A. P. Wirephotos.
had told the House, In good faith,
that his Office had no knowledge Of
them, because Hill had told him and
he believed the clerk. Hill afterward
was convicted of perjury for his
testimony before the grand jury and
is under a 2-to-6-year sentence.
Says Hill Did Not Tell Truth.
Mr.. Hill did not tell me the truth
about that" Mr.. Fish added. But
at the time relied on what he told
me-"
Asked about the speech six Men
and War;" which Hill testified he
sent out at Mr.. Fish's direction
under Senator Lundeen's frank, the
New York Representative said the
speech in question was sent outside
of his office and paid for by Senator
Lundeen.
The trial of Viereck. who Is
charged with failing to disclose all
his propaganda activities after he
registered as a German agent, was
delayed more than an hour this
morning by other court matters
which Justice Let's had on his
calendar.
Mr.. bennett, now q key Govern
ment witness in the Viereck trial, was
in Jail today in lieu of the So 500 bond
which Justice Let's increased from
81 500 late yesterday after q charge
that bennett had circumvented the
rule excluding witnesses from hear
ing other testimony which had been
aired in District Court.
The trial was interrupted dra-
matically as it was about to recess
for the day when Mr.. Maloney made
the charge. Government counsel
said girl friend of bennett had
had been taking notes in the court
room and reading them to the pros
positive witness at recess periods.
The jury was excused for the day
as Justice Let's took up the matter.
bennett was called to the witness
stand by District Attorney Edward
M. Curran, who had been told Of
the alleged occurrence.
Questioned closely. the spoken
former propaganda admitted his
friend, Miss Maria Cecilia Waters,
had been meeting him for lunch
during the trial, and had read on
some notes" about the testimony.
Yesterday at lunch, bennett said,
Miss Waters told him something
about the testimony of Hill. Hill tes-
titled yesterday, repudiating grand
jury testimony that brought his per-
jury indictment and declared Mr..
Fish had introduced him to Viereck
and directed him to mail out under
the frank of the late Senator Lun-
deem of Minnesota a speech in which
the defendant was interested.
Miss Waters was called to the
stand. She denied she had read
bennett any notes, but admitted she
had talked to him about the trial
several times in the last few days.
Did you tell him today" de-
manded Mr.. Curran, that Hill did
not do so good'?"
1T was fairly obvious he didn't"
said Miss Waters.
Did you tell him that2" persisted
the district attorney.
Maybe did" the young woman
| conceded. st thought it was un-
fortunate that he had gone back on
his former testimony and admitted
perjury"
bennett insisted that if he had
done anything improper, he did not
know it. and would like to be cor
rected and told what he should do.
He said he and Miss Waters had
discussed the trial in a general way
and may have mentioned certain
| witnesses.
Prosecutor Maloney had asked
that Dennett's bond be raised to
$4,000, declaring if he would resort
to such practice to learn what
witnesses ahead of him had testi-
fed, he could not be trusted and
his appearance for the Government
should be assured.
Witnesses are required to stay in
the witness room when they are not
on the stand and all communica-
ton with them concerning a trial
is prohibited. bennett was placed
under the 81 500 bond last week when
he failed to answer a summons to
appear before the special grand jury
investigating Nazi activities.
Flare-up In Court.
Emil Morosini Of counsel for
Viereck said he wanted it under
stood the defense had nothing to
do with the bennett episode.
I'm not prepared to say that"
said Mr.. Maloney. II don't know"
Mr.. Morosini retorted hotly, but
Justice Let's explained that the
testimony concerning Dennett's al
legged misconduct as a witness would
not appear in the record Of the
Viereck case.
The f1are-up over bennett came
at the close of court day which
brought sensation In the testimony
Of Hill, who told his story on q
witness stand for the first time since
his indictment. He did not testify
at his own trial.
Hill said he had received approx
mately 5000 from bennett to de-
fray the expenses of having printed
in the Congressional Record ma
terial which the propagandist had
furnished and which later was
mailed out under the franks Of
members Of Congress.
Hill testified that the Dennett
propaganda was put out on his own
initiative and Mr.. Fish did not order
1t.