Evening star., 1949-04-26
Miss CopIoh Demands
That FBI Return Her ;.
Handbag and Papers
Dy Jomes j. CulIinone

BY james ). cullinens
Miss Judith Coplon. suspended
Justice Department analyst. de-
n,anded at her trial In District
Court today that the FBI return
her handbag and all the papers
taken from her when she was
arrested on espionage charges In
New York last month.
The Government has contended
that the documents found in the
attractive 27-year-old brunette's
handbag were taken from the
secret files Of the Justice Depart
ment and that she planned to turn
them over to Valentine A. dubit-
chev, q Soviet engineer employed
by the United Nations in New
York.
A motion demanding the return
Of the handbag and the suppress
sion Of its contents as Government
evidence on the grounds that II
was Illegally seized by FBI agents
who did not have warrant for the
arrest of Miss Coplon was fled by
Chief Defense Attorney Archibald
Palmer.
Charles Violent Seizure.
The motion charged that with
out reason or right or provoca-
ton" Miss Coplon was seized up
on violently by members OF the
Federal Bureau Of Investigation"
and her handbag was grabbed
and seized from her person"
The death Of Miss Coplon's
father on March 20 In New York
is cited as an explanation for the
delay In filing the motion to sup
press the evidence.
Death Of the father. the motion
explains. was followed by . Pc
ricd OF mourning IN accordance
with the deponent's faith. There
after, your deponent was en-
crossed In the care Of her Ill
mother"
Miss Coplon's family were de-
scribed Is devout, orthodox Jews.
PaImer's Questioning Protested.
It Is likely that arguments on
the motion will be heard after q
jury has been selected to try Miss
Coplon.
Judge Albert Reeves, from the
Federal District Court in Kansas
City. who is serving here tenn
porarily. took over the task Of
qualifying the jurors this morn
tng after Chief Prosecutor John
M. Kelley, jr., protested ut 4 con-
ference in the judges chambers
over the delays that had resulted
from Mr.. Palmer's line Of ques-
tioning.
The defense attorney consumed
much of yesterday afternoon
questioning the prospective jurors
who are Government employees.
He sought to establish that Cow
ernment employees could not give
his client a fair trial because they
would be fearful that II they zc'
Quilted her their jobs might be
jeopardized under the Govern
Inent's new loyalty program.
Judge Reeves permitted Mr..
Palmer to continue questioning
the prospective jurors about pos
sible prejudice arising from their
Government Affiliations for : sfioft
time this morning before taking
over the interrogation himself.
Mr.. Palmer was unable to draw
from any prospective Juror an ad-
mission that he would be unable to
hear Miss Coplon's case fairly be-
cause Of his Government connec-
ton.
I'm view of the fact that this Is
q matter involving the security OF
the Government" Mr.. Palmer
asked. wouldn't you feel that, q
person accused by the Govern
ment must be guilty."
The prospective jurors shook
their heads negatively.
Don't any Of you folks who are
working for the Government. Mr..
Palmer continued, "feel you'd
rather not serve on this Jury be-
cause If you acquitted Miss Cop
lon you might be embarrassed in
explaining your action to your
superiors and to your fellow work
ers and you might jeopardize your
jobs or your chances Of promo
tion?"
Again all of the prospective
Jurors shook their heads.
Asks About Investigations.
Have any of you ever had any
association with the House COM
lnittee on un-American Activitles
or the thousands Of investigating
committees that spring like mush-
rooms out Of the son Of Washing
ton to display their inyestigative
powers?n Mr.. Palmer asked.
Mr.. Kelley objected to that lire
of questioning and Mr.. Palmer
said that rather than arouse the
anger Of the prosecutor he would
like TO have the Judge complete
the task Of qualifying the jury.
At the request Of Mr.. Palmer,
Judge Reeves asked the prospec-
tive jurors If they would draw any
inference Of guilt from the fact
that Miss Coplon knew the Soviet
engineer. Gubitchev, and that =
social relationship existed De-
tween them" -
: 1--WE don't deny It," Palmer said.
Judy coplon is going TO get on
the witness stand and tell you al
about it. The defendant was with
this man many times.
Assumes Lack 81 Prejudice.
yssv<aysa