Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-10
|Sedition Letter
Links Policy 10
Russian Fascists
Group in Monchurio
Glad for Tie-up,
Official Wrote
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.


BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
William Dudley Pelley's Silve,
Shirts were in direct touch in 1885,
with q Russian Fascist organization
with headquarters in Hardin, Man.
churia, the Government sought tt
show today in an exhibit admitted
in evidence at the sedition trial ir
District Court.
In a letter which Chief Prosecu-
tor o. John Rogge produced afte,
a presentation Of more than 20(
other documents taken from Policy
defendant, C.. v. Rodsaevsky
wrote the Silver Shirt commander
"The Russian Fascist Union is
very glad indeed to establish a d.
rect connection with the Silver
Shirts of America, which Is doing
it's historical mission of enlighten-
ing the American people about the
Jewish -Communistic menace"
Defense Plans Objection.
While Chief Justice Edward c.
Eicher admitted the Russian letter
along with the other exhibits early
IN the week, no copies of this docu-
ment have been made, and the orig
inal was handed to defense counsel
for the first time shortly before
the noon recess today. Several of
the attorneys planned to object to
the letter, and its presentation to
the jury was deferred until after
noon.
Nail propaganda books, a few OF
them in German. reported taken
from Pelley's library, were displayed
to the jury earlier in the day.
Under the Swastika," "Germany's
Fight for Western Civilization.
Germany and the Jewish Problem. >
were some Of the titles.
Mr.. Rogge said he was SHOWING
these books to the jurors only tc
exhibit their titles and covers ano
not for their contents. Defense at.
torneys contended this procedure
was only confusing, and the books
In their entirety, with translations
of those in German, should be dis.
closed. or no part should be offered
Justice Eicher allowed the Govern.
ment to use the method it hac
chosen.
Jurors Examine Books.
The morning session was occu.
pied almost entirely with the passins
OF these books and other document!
from juror to juror while other.
concerned in the trial waited In
silence.
The Government planned to cal
Two new witnesses during the after.
noon, both regarded by the prosecu.
ton as important to the case agains,
the 26 defendants.
Justice Eicher allowed to remain
IN the record a purported letter tc
Pelley, former leader Of the Silye,
Shirts, from another defendant. Eu.
gene N. Sanctuary, describing an al.
legged conference with President
Roosevelt at which Cardinal Pacelli
now Pope Plus XII, and others were
said to have discussed delivering
the Catholic vote in 1886. The de-
tense demanded exclusion of this
exhibit on the ground 1t had no
bearing on the case and was drag
ging religious issue into the trial.
Sanctuary also wrote: I'm showing
your article on Father Coughlin to
a Catholic friend she remarked that
her church never told its members
how to vote. You probably have
plenty OF evidence to offset this
but l have photostat where a list
OF candidates to be voted on in
Pittsburgh were marked bv the
archbishop for the benefit of his
parishioners.'
Pelleys attorney, William J. Pow
ers, Chicago, led the defense attack
on the exhibit. Mr.. Powers said
that as a Catholic he protested
against injecting a religious issue
which had no bearing on the charge
IN the indictment that the 26 de-
PENDANTS conspired to undermine
the loyalty of the armed forces,
William j. Powers, Pelley,s attor-
ney, called the exhibit IAN ATTEMPT
to smear the Catholic church, which
every Catholic will resent"
Warns Of Chicago Reaction.
Turning to Chief Prosecutor O.
John Rogge, the defense attorney
added: And this is not going to
help your gang in Chicago-Ill tell
you that"
Mr.. Rogge read the letter to the
jury. The Government has charged
that the defendants employed the
Nazl technique Of stirring up racial
and religious intolerance in prepar-
ing the way for a revolt designed to
set up a national socialist state in
this country.
In another letter to Policy placed
IN the record, Sanctuary outlined
dlfnculties he had encountered, add
ing: "The hatred against me started
when published Tainted Contacts.
which exposed the Federal Council
OF Churches of Christ" The council
Is Protestant organization