Evening star., 1949-01-29
Stories Of Mail Threats
Give New Twist 10
Trial Of II Reds
by The Asseeiotsd Press


NEW YORK, Jan. 29.-The con-
spiracy trial Of ii high American
Communists has taken q new twist
with the disclosure that nearly all
the principals involved have re-
ceived threatening letters.
The revelation was made calmly
to a packed courtroom yesterday by
Federal Judge Harold r. Medina,
presiding jurist. Shortly afterward,
he adjourned the trial until Monday
Returning from a luncheon recess,
the jurist informed the spectators
that he had received threatening
communications" at his home.
II don't think I am in any danger,
but If I'm wrong, I'll face the risk
calmly" he said, adding he did not
think the letters were inspired by
the defendants or counsel"
Others Also Threatened.
In fact, he said, he had mo
notion" of what brought them on.
After Judge Medina made the dis
closure, Harry Sacher, defense at
torney, announced that he, too
along with the defendants, all men,
bers of the American Communist
Party's National Committee, and
other defense lawyers-had been
threatened by mail.
He said there were threats of
violence against ourselves, our
wives and children"
The II Communists are charged
with conspiring to advocate the
overthrow of the United States Gov
ernment.
Referring to the letters, Judge
Medina 5aid it was a apparent"
that the character of the accusa-
tions against him in the courtroom,
"the extravagant charges which
have been made repeatedly, emo-
tionally and loudly, may cause some
misguided people to get the wrong
impression Of the administration of
justice"
Discrimination Claimed.
Since the trial opened January II,
defense counsel have sought re-
peatedly to get Judge Medina to
disqualify himself on the grounds
of bias and prejudice.
The also have charged him with
upholding the method of picking
jurors in the New York Federal
district-a system they claim dis
eliminates in favor of the rich
against the poor and members of
minority groups, such as Jews and
Negroes.
In support of its claims, the de-
fense yesterday presented an array
of documents, including a directory
OF corporation directors and ex-
ecutives and the New York social
register. The defense claims Jurors
are picked from such lists.
Prof. Doxey A. Wilkerson, director
OF the faculty at the jefferson
School for Social Studies, which
teaches Marxist themes, was the
witness used to identify the Social
Register as one Of the documents
from which jurors are selected.
Formerly at Howard U.
Prof. Wilkerson, onetime educa-
ton director Of the Communist
Party Of Maryland and the District
Of Columbia, formerly was on the
faculty Of Howard University.
Also offered as an exhibit was a
map purportedly showing the dis
tribution Of jurors of the panel Of
February 6, 1910. Most of the pins
stuck in the map were clustered
about the Central Park, Washington
Square, Sutton Place areas, all in
the nth Assembly District, some
times called the silk stocking dis
trict"
Following the adjournment, Judge
Medina told newsmen he had re-
ceived about 20 letters since the trial
began. None of them contained
direct threats Of physical violence,
he said, but added that his wife
was worried by them.