Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-15

were blocked by prosecution ceiee-
tons.
Mr.. Palmer sought 70 question
Mrs. Condor about q secret FEI
report which said sae had fur
nished the name Of . Bulgarian.
suspected Of being . Russian
espionage agent. to Morton Z
Kent. q Washington businessman
who killed himself by xlashing his
throat early this month. His body
was found In the Potomac River
near Key Bridge.
Did you ever know Mr.. Morton
Kent. now dead2" Mr., Palmer
asked.
Object. said the prosecutor.
Sustained" said the Judge.
Mr.. Iekes got 70 answer . few
more questions. He identified
himself as Harold L. Ickes."
Iekes Farmer by Prexy."
You are . farmer" Mr.. Palmer
asked.
BY proxy" Mr.. Ickes replied
Answering . question by Mr..
Palmer. Mr.. Ickes said he had been
Secretary Of the Interior for IL
years. Asked If he ever Was "ac-
quainted with q lady by the name
Of Ruth. Gruoer. Mr.. Ickes replied:
Yes"
Was she ever your secretary?"
mo"
Mr.. Palmer then suggested that
mention OF Miss Gruber as his sec
rotary In one of the FBI reports
was mot . fact" Mr.. Ickes said
1t was not.
Among the questions Mr.. Palm
or asked Mr.. Ickes were these: Did
the FBI ever make reports to his
ONCE? Was this lady" Miss
Gruber) at any time q Com
munist?
Kelley Called to Stand.
Mr.. Kelley was called to the
stand as q defense witness later in
the morning. Mr.. Palmer wanted
to know If the prosecutor had ex-
amined the secret FBI reports be-
fore he protested to Judge Reeves
that their public disclosure would
endanger the National security
and the national defense. Mr..
Kelley said he had not read any
Of the documents In their entirety
before the Government was forced
to produce them in open court.
The question of the harm that
might be done through public
disclosure of the secret reports
had gone through channels to
the very top Of the FBI." the
prosecutor said. When he re-
ceived word that the FBI. whose
duty it is to pass upon such
matters. felt that disclosure of the
would be harmful to the
security Of the United States. he
did not explore the question
further, Mr.. Kelley added.
Protests Against Testimony.
When the trial. now in its
eighth week. resumed this morn
ing. Mr.. Kelley protested against
the summoning of DR.. and Mrs.
Condor and Mr.. Ickes. contend
ing that they would be unable to
testify on any material mater.
How could it affect the guilt
or innocense of the defendant by
Mr.. Ickes take the stand
to testify that his secretary was
not a contact agent for the Rus
Mr.. Kelley asked.
The prosecutor said 1t would be
q mockery Of justice" and that
the trial could be prolonged in
definitely" If the defense we're al
lowed to call an undetermined
Of persons to attempt to-
testify about collateral matters.
Mr.. Kelley asked that DR.. and
Mrs. Condor and Mr.. Ickes be
excluded from the witness stand
until defense counsel made IAN
offer Of proof" that their testi-
mony would be relevant.
Objection Over-ruled.
Judge Reeves ruled that the
witnesses could take the stand
and promised to do my best to
keep out prejudicial matter"
The mere fact that questions
could be submitted to the wit
nesses in front Of the jury. even
responses would not be
permitted. could seriously preju-
dice the Governments case. Mr..
Kelley said.
Your honor's historic decision
permitting the FBI investigatiye |
reports to be received in evidence. I"
Mr.. Palmer said. has opened the |
door to let the people know that |
the moral fiber of the American |
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