Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-22
7 Sedition Defendants
Linked With V-Card
Mailing by Witness
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Testimony involving two defend
ants in the sedition case in circula-
ton of the w" postcard shortly be-
fore America went to war, depicting
the horrors awaiting troops who
might be sent to West Africa, was
given late yesterday by George Hill,
former clerk In the Office of Repre-
sentative Fish, Republican, of New
York. The trial was in recess today
until Monday.
Hill, who was convicted of perjury
In connection with grand jury in
vestigation Of the Thanking of con-
gressional speeches from Mr.. Fish S
Office and served 10 months, named
Prescott F. bennett, Washington
journalist. and Charles B. Hudson
of Omaha as concerned with the
printing and circulation of the card
The witness said Bennett came
into Mr.. Fish's Office in the late sum-
mer Of 1941 with a geography under
his arm. The defendant explained
Hill said, that ne would like to get ur
a card showing the distance from
New York to Dakar and ridiculine
the V-for-Victory emblem, then be-
ing played up by Great Britain
bennett wanted to describe the dis.
eases and poisonous reptiles abound.
ing in West Africa, Hill added.
Hill Suggested Artist.
Hill said he suggested an artist
named Ralph Faulkner, who coulc
letter the card and who also wa,
quite a poet Faulkner prepared
the card. under Dement'S instruc-
tons, and they went to a loca.
printer and had a plate made and
1000 cards printed, Hill said.
What did you do with the 1000
cards?" asked Chief Prosecutor O
John Rogge.
The witness said he mailed them
Asked to whom, Hill said to "dif
ferent people in different sections
of the country" and he added
They had nothing to do with Mr.
Fish, though it was done in his
ONCE"
The witness said the plate was
sent to Hudson at Omaha. The
Government had called as the pre-
ceding witness John G. Rosicky,
printer, who said Hudson came to
him with a plate of the ~" card
and had 1000 cards printed.
Hill said that after his artist
friend lettered the card, adding the
caption, West Africa Is Not Ice
land-its anything but nice land,
Bennett suggested a parenthetical
line at the bottom. This, the wit
ness explained, was to avoid what
happened to franked speech by
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana, which got into the hands
OF veterans" Another "V" card al
ready in evidence showed in paren-
thesis: This card is intended only
for Americans in possession of their
full civic rights. 1t is not intended
for the armed forces of the U. S. A.
The card was headed w is for VIC
tory" and added a resume OF West
Africa's horrors.
Hill Knew Viereck.
Hill said he knew another de-
fendant. George Sylvester Viereck,
whom he first met in Mr.. Fish S
office.
Prosecutor Royce brought out
from the witness his perjury con-
viction, which occurred during the
period of Viereck's trials for with
holding information when register
ing as a foreign agent.
The Government called the two
witnesses after Chief Justice Ed
ward c. Eicher, following prolonged
arguments. refused to- allow the
prosecution to Introduce a tran
script of testimony which bennett
and Viereck gave before District
grand jury. The testimony, it was
brought out during the arguments.
concerned the V card.
Hill will be ross-examined Mon
day.
The flve-month-old trial came up
again on the floor of the Senate
yesterday when Senator Wheeler
denounced it as lone of the most
disgraceful proceedings ever brought
before an American court"
"A mass trial" he said, lis wrong
in principle. 1t is making a laugh
ing stock of the courts"
Senator LANCER. Republican, OF
North Dakota referred to the case
as "a fantastic political prosecu-
tion,' adding that in five months
the Justice Department had shown
1t had no real evidence.