Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-18
GriffinChdrges
Attorney Tried
To Frame Him

III IlQIHC lIlH |
special to THE DETROIT TIMES
NEW YORK, Nov. lS.-Charges
that the governments prosecutor
tried 10 frame" him before a
grand jury and tried
to get him TO testify falsely
against Catholic priest were
made today in the federal buildingl
by William Griffin. editor and
publisher of the New York En-
quirer.
Griffin, in a series of hearings,
is opposing removal TO Washington
to face trial, with q others. on
charges of conSpiring TO under
mine the morale of the armed
forces and 10 violate the espionage
act.
Before Griffin made his charges
he was preceded 10 the witness
stand by former United States
Attorney Martin Conboy and Col.
William II. Rankin, advertising
man and selective service official
who described him as man
whose reputation for loyalty and
patriotism is very good.
CHARACTER WITNESSES
They had been called as charac-
ter witnesses for Griffin.
Griffin'S charges against the
prosecutor came when his cross
examination was resumed. He was
being questioned by Special AS
Isistant Attorney General William
Power Maloney who obtained the
Washington indictment.
Maloney had been questioning
him about his association with
George Sylvester Viereck, con-
Ivicted Nazi propaganda whom
Griffin has said had promised to
aid him in easing the lot of Jews
in Germany.
Griffin said he met Viereck
several times in various parts OF
the city. principally on streets and
| in Central Park in the fall OF 1910.
SURPRISE MOVE
AS Maloney continued his ques-
tioning. Griffin suddenly pulled a
paper from his pocket and waved
! it at Maloney.
"You,' he shouted, tried to
frame me In Washington, before
that grand jury on the safe de-
post box. have the proof
right here In my pocket--here
IL Ii. here II Is. You've carried
on n plan Of persecution against
me for months in PM and the
Daily Worker"
There was no explanation OF
the reference to the safe deposit
box.
Maloney interrupted to say:
Those are strong words for
a man with a heart condition"
Griffin for months has had
a serious heart ailment that has
necessitated short hearings be-
fore United States Commits
sioner CotterO
81 may have a heart con-
dltion," Griffin replied, but
haven't lost my courage. You
tried to make me swear falsely
against Father Jgnatius Cox
mot further identifedD. You
said he wrote my editorials in
the Enquirer"
VIERECK'S REQUEST
aVo,, go - -. eli koucha. In
midwinter with Mr.. Viereck on
three or four occasions" Ma
loney charged.
81 did what Viereck asked me
10. can't remember each
occasion. / didn't go to his home
and 1 didn't have him at my
home because i met him exactly
where he wanted me to, 1
wasn't debating, 1 was seeking
something from him laid for the
Jews of Germany.
Q-Isn't it a fact you didn't
90 to Viereck's house because
you were afraid that dicta-
phones might have been placed
there?
Alt would have been To my
credit to have the things I said
to Viereck published.
Q-Isn't il a fact you met
i Viereck to discuss money to be
given you to influence the Irish
papers in promoting German
propaganda?
A-No.
L
Maloney insisted that Griffin
had told the Washington grand
jury that he did not go to Vie
reck'S house or invite the MAJ
agent to his house so as not to be
seen by any one.
II don't recall that" Griffin
}. said. "but produce the records
and let them speak for them
selves"
I He said that he did not want &c
share in the unfavorable publicity
then being given Viareck because
IL would harm his efforts in behalf
oof the Jewish people and that wa,
9why he did not want to be seer
with Viereck.