Evening star., 1944-09-25
Sedition Lawyer
Buckley
As '|nforner'
Powers Says Witness
Against Lou9hIin
Betroys Clients
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.


lin, former defense attorney in the
sedition case, after a trial at Balti-
more last week on charges of OBJ
structing justice, brought explosive
echoes at the sedition trial in Dis
trict Court today
The fireworks were set off by Will
liam J. Powers, attorney for William
Dudley Pelley. MI. Powers declared
another defense attorney, M. Ed
ward Buckley, jr., was "a notorious
informer" who regularly betrayed
his clients to the police and the
FB1. MI Buckley testified against
Mr.. Laughlin in Federal Court at
Baltimore.
Mr.. Buckley was absent and Chief
Justice Edward E. Eicher indicated
he would go into the charges against
the defense attorney when he was
present. The court meanwhile shut
of further discussion.
DilIing Joins i'm Denunciation.
Albert w Dilline, counsel for
Elizabeth Dilllng. joined in the de-
nunciation of Mr.. Buckley. Mr.
Dilling also moved to reinstate Mr
Laughlin. explaining that Mr..
Laughlln at the moment was en-
terlng his appearance with the Dis
trict Court clerk as attorney for two
defendants, Eugene N. Sanctuary
and Ernest S. Elmhurst. These de-
PENDANTS have refused to have any,
thlng to do with the attorneys ap-
pointed for them by the court weeks
ago and have asked for Mr. Laugh
lin.
Mr.. Dllllng said he thought Justice
Elcher was in error in ouSting Mr..
Laughlln from the case for filing an
impeachment petition against the
presiding judge. Mr.. Dilling charged
the court with committing an i'm
peachment oftense' in dismissing
Mr. Laughlin.
Chlet Prosecutor o. John Rogge
objected to Mr.. billings remarks
as ''out of order"
Justice Eiche' said he would not
hear from Mr.. Dilling further. but
directed him to file a written mo-
ton.
Buckley's Client Absent.
1t developed. meanwhile. that Mr.
buckleys client. Edward James
Smythe. also was absent.
P. Bateman Ennis. a defense at
tornev, told the court Smvthe tele-
phoned him Saturday that he was
going to New York to get another
attorney.
"Smythe said he was going to
discharge Mr.. Buckley" Mr.. Ennis
explained.
Ira Chase Koehne. who represents
three other defendants. volunteered
10 protect Smythe's interests until
Mr.. Buckley returned. The court
ruled that Smythe was voluntarily
absent" and ordered the trial to
proceed
Mr.. Powers, in assailing MI.
Buckley was leading up to a mo-
ton for a mistrial. based on the
charge that the Government had
planted "a stooge' among the de-
fense counsel who had reported
their private conferences to the
prosecution and the court. This had
prevented the defendants from get
ting fair trial or preparing an
adequate defense, he was ready to
contend, But the motion was de-
ferred and the marshals Office tried
to locate Mr.. Buckley.
Powers Assails Buckley,
Making his attack in the absence
OF the jury, Mr.. Powers, Chicago
attorney. pointed out that he was
not member OF the local bar. and
where he practiced the sort of attor-
ney he referred to here did not last
long.
Mr. Powers said he had learned
that Mr.. Buckley is a professional
lnformer. with long record of work
for the FBI and the police" Mr..
Powers added:
While ostensibly acting as an
attorney for the defense, this man
would violate the confidence of his
clients and report what they said to
police
In the Hyattsville bank robbery
case in l94l, in connection with
which MI. Laughlin was indicted.
Mr.. Buckley at first pretended to
act as attorney for Hilliard Sanders,
and then in gross violation of
ethics told the authorities what the
prisoner said. Mr.. Powers charged.
In view of what l had heard =
MI. Powers told the court. Il had one
OF my investigators come from New
YORK and he fully verified the report
that Mr.. Buckley was a notorious
lnformer-a police court attorney
who represents prostitutes and
gamblers.
Ready to Repeat Charges.
Il was puzzled by some things in
this case. by the attitude of the
court TO me. I now understand. I
did say things in lawyers confer
ences which thought would be held
IN confidence. These things were
reported.
When Justice Eicher asked if Mr..
Buckley was present Mr.. Koehne
said, No. that's why these charges
are made"
Mr., Powers replied that he would
make all the charges in Mr.. Buck
leyS presence.
When the trial was resumed. the
cross examination of a Government
witness was continued The wit
ness was George Hill, former clerk
in the office of Representative Fish
Republican, OF New York. Mr.. Hill
described the w card depicting the
horrors OF West Africa
Mr.. Hill said he had the card
written at the request of Prescott
bennett, a defendant. who paid for
the printing.
In ALL Mr.. Hill said. bennett paid
him about $4,000 to defray the cost
OF mailing out extra copies of con-
gressional speeches Dennet was
chairman of the Make Europe Paw
War-Debts Committee.
The witness was cross-examined
closely by Dennett's attorney, Frank
j. Kelly.
Veterans of This War