Evening star., 1952-03-12
Baltimore Trial Hears
Ex-Red Outline Role
OF FrankfeId in Party
BY the Associated Press

W 1IWussNuVaN hH
BY the Associated Press
BALTIMORE E, Mar. IL. "A
former American Red, who said
he quit the Communist Party be-
cause he couldn't engage in
espionage against his Govern
ment," testified today that Com
munist dogma calls for the over
throw Of capitalism by armed
force.
Paul Crouch, who claims to-
have held about 100 positions in
the party, continued testifying at
the trial of six accused Com
muniSt conSpirators.
Mr.. Crouch told the court he
left the party in 1941 when he
was directed to take certain steps
in connection with research of a
confidential nature at the Uni
verSity, Of California.
He outlined the party career of
defendant Philip Frankfeld. MIR.
Crouch said that Frankfeld,
former party organizer in Boston;
served on the Young Communist
League BURO.
He, testified that with other
BURO members he>and Frankfeid
worked on plans to infiltrate party
members into the Army, the Ma
tional Guard and Reserve Officers
Training Corps.
Founded Federation.
Yesterday on the House floor,
Representative Kersten, Repub-
hcan, of Wisconsin identified Mr.
Crouch and his wife Sylvia as
founders of the Federation of
Former Communists.
Mr.. Kersten said the purpose
of the organization is to aid ex-
Communists in rehabilitating
themselves and to help America
in its battle against communism
"The Communists have a great
fear Of ex-Communists," Mr., Ker-
stem said.
Mr.. Crouch Of Washington,
conSultant with the immigration
and Naturalization Service said
he joined the parry in 1925 while
serving time at Alcatraz for Red
activities while soldier in
Hawaii.
sr1,a a.r No,,o,ao,1,,;s+ x.,1.n ha.
been a frequent witness before
congressional hearings was al
lowed to testify. over defense
objections. that the party in this
country today is still dedicated
to the destruction of capitalistic
governments by violence.
Identifies Documents.
The witness identified several
"top policy" documents at the
three-day-old trial of Leroy II.
Wood. former chairman Of the
Washington party, and five al
legged associates in the. Maryland
District organization.
Others on trial before Judge w.
Calvin Chestnut are Mr.. and Mrs.
Philip Frankfeld, described as
former party officials in Maryland
and in Cleveland; George Meyers,
former Cumberland (Md.1, labor
leader. and once an officer of the
Maryland-District group:M Mrs.
Dorothy Rose Blumberg Of New
York and Baltimore, and Attorney
Maurice Braverman of Baltimore.
Prosecutor Bernard j. Flynn
told the jury that all six are either
active or former members of the
party. While the others have ads
mltted membership, BraNernnaIf8
merely told the jury he was
proud" to have represented the
party as an attorney. without say
ing whether or not he was mem
ber.
Elect to Plead Own Cases.
Braverman and Meyers elected
to plead their own cases before the
jury. although Meyers has had no
legal training. Attorney James T.
Wright, colored. of Washington
boId the court he represents Wood
ana would reserve his opening
statement.
On several occasions the Judge
cautioned Braverman, Meyers and
oefense counsel against using the
trial as forum to expound po-
htical beliefs"
Tells Of Frankfeld Work.
Mr.. Crouch told the Jury that
one OF the defendants, Philip
Frankfeld. helped him work out
plan for inf1ltrating the armed
services in New York during 1927.
while the latter was an officer of
the Young Communist League.
The witness said he spent sew
erai months in Moscow in 1927
and 1928, where he discussed the
plan with Red army and Com
munist International officers.
To Infiiltrate Services.
MIR. Crouch said the idea was
TO 1nhltrate the services with
trained organizers and to work
toward obtaining officers in the
National Guard and the Reserves.
The witness said he held about
100 offices with the party between
1927 and the early 30's.
Mr.. Crouch said that his pre-
sent work with the Government
requires him to keep informed on
Communist policy here, and the
policy is the same now as it was in
1927.
Tells Of Early Life.
Meyers told the jury he was
the son of a coal miner who, like
his uncle. was injured in the
mines. He said that, as a child.
he salvaged fuel from the rail-
road tracks to keep his family
warm because his brother could
not earn enough in the mines to
pay the bills.
He said the social injustices he
had seen turned him to labor
organization work, especially in
the 4Avfi1o Aald