Evening star., 1953-08-01
Red Probers Study
Evidence Of Perjury
|Af Quiz Of Minister
By Allen Drury

SuSSCSOCO bOOdy GI1dG Gkl6 JuSClC6
Department may be asked to
determine whether perjury had
been committed during the
questioning of the Rev. Jack
Richard McMichael.
In two days of stormy testi-
mony this week. the voluble 36-
year-old Methodist minister from
California denied knowing three
witnesses who linked him with
Red causes during the mid-30s.
Chairman Velde told reporters
there was considerable evidence
that perjury has been COM
mitted." He said, however, that
investigation and prosecution for
perjury could not be recon-
mended by the committee until
it has a meeting to discuss the
facts.
Calls His AccuSers Liars"
Representative Clardy, Repub-
lican, of Michigan declared the
hearing record "ought to be sent
to the Justice Department right
away"
Representative Doyle, Demo-
crat, of California, told report
erS: ut is obvious the record
will have to be referred to- the
Justice Department"
During the hearing, the
preacher called two of his ac-
cusers. Manning Johnson and
Leonard Patterson, liars and
perjurers." He said they should
be so charged and tried.
Mr.. johnson, a former Com
munist, had told the House
probers that Mr.. McMichael had
been a member of the Young
Communist League.
In addition, Mr.. and Mrs. John
j. Edmiston of WayneSville
Ohio, testified they met Mr.
McMichael when he was active
in a Communist-d dominated
Youth Congress at Columbus
Ohio, in 1910.
After yesterdays session the
clergyman left for Upper Lake,
Calf, still under subpoena for
further questioning. This may
come in September.
Mrs. Edmiston emphasized to
the probers that she and her
husband were never able to es-
tablish that Mr.. McMichael held
Communist Party membership
The committee brought the
EdmiStonS and Mr.. johnson
forward at yesterdays session
The minister said:
II don't recognize the name
and I don't recognize this man
l will say definitely I have nc
knowledge of ever having met
him."
When the Edmistons came
forward later in the day. Mr.
McMichael looked at tanned
gray-haired Mr.. Edmiston and
said:
II don't recognize him. ]
wouldn't say I don't know him
but I don't recognize him"
When Mrs. Edmiston stepped
to the stand, Mr.. McMichael
looked at her carefully and re-
marked:
II don't recall her. / don't re-
call ever having met her.
might have, though I don't recall
it, because it is my policy as a
Christian minister to meet all
kinds of folks"
Tell of Undercover Work.
Later under oath Mr.. and Mrs.
Edmiston testified that they had
been FBI undercover agents in
1910 when they attended the
Ohio Youth Conference held in
the Southern Hotel in Columbus.
They described Mr.. McMichael
as a prime mover" and "princi-
pal speaker" at the conference.
Once, they said, Mr.. McMich-
ael and half a dozen known
Communists held a discussion on
the mezzanine floor of the hotel
concerning FBI attempts to in
flltrate Red front organizations.
They said they were also in
cluded in the group and describ-
ed themselves as much amused"
by the discussion.
Mrs. Edmiston also testified
that they had seen Mr.. Nc
Michael at an Emergency Peace
Mobilization in Chicago later in
the year at which he and other
speakers attacked the draft and
aid to the Allies. Mrs. Edmiston
also said she had served on a
panel with him at a rally in Phil
adelphia in July, 1941. The panel
discussed aid to China.