Evening star., 1951-07-05
Bondsmen for Reds
Given Final DeadIine
To Escape Contempt
BY the Assoeioted Press

NEW YORK, July 5.-Frederick
Vanderbilt Field, secretary of the
Civil Rights Congress bail fund.
was warned today he would be
adjudged in contempt of court
unless he produced by 2:30 pm.
the names of contributors of $780,
600 in Government bonds posted
as bail for four missing Commu-
mist leaders.
Mr. Field is a left-Wing descend
ant of a family long prominent in
American financial and social
circles.
The Civil Rights Congress bail
fund posted total of $260,000 hail
for the II convicted Communist
leaders. Seven began serving their
prison terms Monday. but four
failed to appear in court and their
bail was ordered forfeited.
Federal Judge Sylvester j. Ryan
issued the contempt warning when
Field refused today for the sec
ond time to give the names on
the ground that it might incrim-
mate him.
Asked About Books.
Mr. Field and Abner Green, an
other bail fund officer, first had
refused at a bail fund inquiry on
Tuesday to give the names.
Judge Ryan today asked Mr..
Field if he kept books showing the
names of lenders who deposited
monies or securities" with the
bail fund.
Mr.. Field said the fund trustees
kept records and that they were
in the custody of the funds ac-
countant, Murial Patterson.
After a conference with Victor
Rabinowitz, his counsel, Mr.. Field
said:
Il feel that any question ad-
dressed to me with respect to the
depositors of the fund I must de-
cline to answer becaase any an
sWer I give might tend to incrim-
mate me-"
Two Others SubpOenaed.
The judge said at the inquiry
Tuesday the identity of those per-
sons or person, who contributed
tc the bail fund. might aid in
tracking down the fugitives. Judge
Ryan then gave Mr.. Field and
Mr.. Green until today to talk or
run the risk of being found in
contempt of court. 4
Two other bail funds trustees.
w. Alpheus Hunton and Dashiell
Hammett. the mystery-novelist,
also have been subpoenaed to ap-
pear today.
The missing men are believed
to be trying to flee the country,
If they already have not done so,
or possibly seeking to reorganize
the party command on an under
ground basis.
May Seek Revocation.
Meanwhile. United States Attor-
ney Irving H. Saypol says he might
seek the revocation of bail on
which II second string" Red
leaders now are free. Mr.. Saypol
also is considering asking an in
crease in the bail for all II which
currently totals $4,000 Four
others were indicted with these II
on charges of plotting violent
overthrow of the United States
Government. They have not been
apprehended.
The four missing convicted
Communists are Henry Winston,
national organization secretary;
Gus Hall. national secretary; Rob-
ert Thompson, New York State
chairman, and Gilbert Green,
Illinois chairman.
All except Thompson were SEN
fenced to five years in Jail and all
were fined $4,000. Thompson
received a three-year prison sem
tence because of his World War II
record.
The other missing men are
James E. jackson, Sidney Stein
Cor Steinberg), Fred Fine and
William Marion. All but Marion
allegedly had been named by the
party to take over the higher
PolHburo echelons after the for
mer top men" went to prison. |