Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-06-14
Westbrook Pegler
Westbrook Pegler
Justice Departments
Bioff- Browne Mystery

THE federal department Of
l. justice seems determined TO
make mystery of the treat
ment of two OF its more cele-
brated guests, both. political
protegeS of the Chicago chapter
of the Party of Humanity, Will
lie Bioh and George Browne.
Convicted of eXtortion in New
York in the fall of l94l, these
two union racketeerS, whose
organization retained in its pay
MIR. Joseph Padway, general
counsel Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and recently
President Roosevelt's emissary
10 Britain on special mission
10 British labor, apparently have
spent very little time in prison
so far.
Moreover, il seems impossible
10 obtain from the department
of Justice an honest statement
of the time they have actually
spent in prison.
Editors note: Mr.. Pegler
is differentiating between A
federal prison, such as Leav-
enWOrth, and a house Of
detention" such as may he
used 10 hold prisoners await
ING trialD
With reluctance, about three
months ago an assistant 10
Matthias COrrca. L. S district
attorney for New York City,
admitted that Bioff and Browne
were not in prison AT that time
but in the federal house Of
detention in New York.
DISSATISFIED with some
II comments mine en- this
strange case, the Milwaukee
Journal wrote 10 the depart
ment Of Justice 10 ask the facts
and received an evasive reply
from a Mr.. Hammock. who was
then the acting director Of
prisons,
Mr.. Hammack said the men
had been in federal 'lnstltu-
tons which, Of course. is an
ineXaCt term. covering all the
range between the country club
at Danhury. Conn, and the
Rock of Alcatraz in San Fran
cisco.
This evasion was noted in a
recent number Of these dis
patches and two persons pur-
sued the matter with further
letters 70 tho department OF
justice.
Both have received replies
which they have forwarded 70
me Both replies are signed by
James Y, Bennett. who appears
10 have relieved Mr. Hammock
as director Of prisons, and both
are eVaSlVe on one point which
| think could not have failed
70 occur 70 Mr. Bennett That
point Is how long were these
men in prison
MR. BENNETT makes con
A'l siderable show Of fortnight
ness In each letter. but he also
shows that he does not know his
facts or that ! don't know mine
when he tells both citizens that
Ploff was sentenced 10 20 years
In prison. Unless every reporter
in the courtroom heard the Judge
incorrectly. Biod' s term IS 10
years. not 20
But I cannot COnCcde that Mr..
Bennett Is any more direct IN
his replies 70 these two citizens
than Mr. Hammack was 10 the
editor Of tho Milwaukee Journal
when he fails 10 state exactly
when Blof and Browne were
released from LeaNcnWOrth and
returned 10 the house Of dcicn-
ton in New York as government
witnesses in the current cases
against other members Of the
Chicago politlCo underworld
union mob
TNIE political connections Of
Il TINS mob are not imaginary
or exaggerated. They arc real
and powerful and these and
many other vicious racketeers
absolutely rule union matters IN
the American Federation Of La
Dor IN Chicago St Louis and
elsewhere IN the territory which
the Chicago Tribune has an
schluSSed into region which II
calls ChiCagoland.