Evening star., 1947-07-19
EisIer Defense 10 Cite
Underground PeriIs in
|ConceaIing Of Aliases
BY NewboId Moves, Jr.

Assistant United States Attorney
William Hitz called the testimony
of Leon Josephson, under cross
examination yesterday "a dress re.
hearsal" Of the defense case.
Eisler Is charged with failing tc
inform the Government. when he
applied for an alien exit permit tc
Germany in 1945. that he had Com.
.nunist affiliations here. had used
aliases and had been in the United
States in the 1930s. The trial will
continue Monday.
Explains Motives.
Mr. Josephson. a New York Com
munist attorney, was called by the
Government to explain how it hap
pened in 1884 that. as Bernard A
Hirshfield," he made out a passport
application for Eisler-as Samuel
Liptzen." In this application, Mr.
Josephson certified he had known
Esler, or "Liptzen,' 10 years.
Mr.. JosephSon, under indictment
here for contempt of Congress. told
the jury both he and 'Liptzen
were attempting to get into Ger
many to do underground work
against Hitler. This, he indicated
was why he was willing to falsify
an acquaintanceship with "Liptzen, -
and why he himself signed a false
name to the applicat ton. He hso
never seen the man before, he said
and did not know he was Eisler
until about six weeks ago.
Underground work is very dan
gerous," Mr.. Josephson said. "A
man never knew when he'd be
picked up by the Gestapo. A man
never knew how much punishment
he could stand if he we're picked up.
Therefore, the witness explained
workers in the anti-fascist under
ground did not want to know the
true identity of their associates, and
did not want associates to know
their true identity.
Confirmed by Counsel.
Abraham J. Isserman. chief de-
fense counsel, confirmed to reporters
after yesterdays court session that
a similar answer would constitute
part of Eisler's defense against the
charge he did not admit using
aliases.
1--WE will deny he used some OF
the aliases which the Government
says he used" Mr.. Isserman said
I'm the case of some aliases, how
ever. we will show he had to conceal
them because of the nature of his
work as an anti-fascist."
The jury of seven men and five
women heard yesterday that Eisler
told the central committee of the
American Communist Party in 1913;
that Communism must sink It's
roots" into basic American indus.
tries "as a necessary prerequisite
to the seizure of power"
This assertion came from Man.
ming johnson, colored, former Com.
munist organizer of the Buffalo
IN. " district. He said Eisler in.
structed the Central Committee
governing body of the Communist
Party. to work with the AFL anc
organize the railroad, mining, ma
rine and steel industries"
Arranged Secret Meeting.
Mr.. johnson told of arranging &
secret meeting in 1888 at which
Eisler conferred with Earl Browder
former chairman of the American
Communist Party, and two leader.
of the Canadian Communist Party
He said he received a coded mes.
sage through underground party
channels from national party head
quarters in New York. The mes.
sage, he said, read as follows:
AN important person by the name
Of Brown will meet with leading
comrades. Arrange meeting anc
notify this center.
Brown" said Mr.. Johnson. point.
ing dramatically at Eisler. lis the
gentleman sitting there"
Eisler stared owlishly at the wit.
ness and showed no concern.
Mr.. Isserman. objecting repeated.
ly to the admission of Mr.. John
sons evidence, told Justice JAIME.
w. Morris that the defense intended
to move for a mistrial. He callee
Mr.. Johnson's disclosure irrelevant
highly prejudicial and inflamma'
tory"-and added the defense wa!
surprised.
Dentist Brought Letter.
Mr.. johnson testified that. as 1
party organizer, he customarily re-
ceived secret messages from New
York headquarters through "promi
nent physicians in Buffalo" Th'
letter instructing him to Arrange
! the meeting for Brown" was de
livered to him by leading dentis
of the city, he said.
Mr.. Hitz told reporters the Gov
ernment thinks it may finish pre-
senting the case against Eisler BY
Thursday. There has been no ind1'
cation as yet as to the number o.
identity of defense witnesses. Mr.
Isserman said he does not yet know
whether he will put Eisler on thu
stand in his own defense, but thu
defendant commented:
"Isserman has not yet made ny
his mind. But you can say Eislel
has. Eisler, positively, will take ths
stand.
Key Witness Hunted.
The Government, meanwhile
pressed so-far unsuccessful at
tempts to serve a subpoena on KEY
prosecution witness. He is ia,
Lovestone, leader of American Com
munists until 1929, since oustet
| from the party.
Mr.. Hitz said unsuccessful at
tempts had been made to serve
subpoena on Mr.. Lovestone in New
York, both at his office and hi
home. Officers had been able t.
discover no clue as to his where
abouts. Mr.. Hitz said. adding:
"It appears Mr.. Lovestone ma
not be anxious to receive the sub
! poena.'