Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-04
Police Push Search
For Puerto Ricans in
Nationalist Party


Nationalist Party
A breakdown on members of
the Puerto Rican Nationalist
Party was under way today as
Washington police set up a spe-
cial file, and police in other cities
announced arrests.
The four Puerto Ricans charged
in Mondays shooting of five
Representatives on the House
floor were described as members
of the party trying to gain Gin
dependence" for Puerto Rico
through terrorist methods.
The Justice Department was
believed to be studying methods
of Snuffing out the small band
of extremists who earlier admit
ted the 1850 attempt on the life
OF President Truman.
100 Photographers on Hand.
Capt. Michael j. Mahaney.
head of the special investiga-
tons squad. said photographs of
100 known Nationalist Party
members had been assembled
for use in any future arrests.
He said the roundup would
determine whether any of the
members were carrying weapons.
or if they had criminal records
and were wanted in other juris-
dictionS for prosecution.
One man described as a Puerto
Rican was picked up today on
suspicion that he was a member
of the party. Police were rum
ming down other rumors flying
fast since the wild shooting
spree in the House Monday.
Two Seized in Cuba.
In Havana. Cuban military in
telligence officers arrested for
questioning Juan Juarbes, foreign
affairs secretary of the party.
Another Nationalist, Carlos Pc
dilla Perez, also was seized.
Chicago police picked up five
Puerto RicanS in a roundup of
local Nationalist leaders. Author
tiles refused to say what action
they expected to take.
Possibility that other charges
will be brought against the House
shooting defendants arose today.
The firearms section of the In
ternal Revenue Services Alcohol
and Tobacco Tax Division is
studying its firearms statutes to
see whether they apply.
II any of the defendants have
been convicted of certain fell
onies they are liable to prose-
cution under the Federal Fire
arms Act, with penalties of 81
600 fines and 5 years imprison-
ment. Their police records are
under study.
Multiple Weapon Charge.
If any of the weapons used |
in the shooting are found to have
been fired in multiple fashion,
such as machine gun does,
the persons using them could /
be prosecuted under the Ma
tional Firearms Act, carrying |
maximum penalties of $4,000 |
fines and one year imprisonment. |
Meanwhile, the condition of !.
Representative Alvin NJ. Bentley :
of Michigan, shot with four 9TH
ers in Congress Monday, was
complicated stoday by hiccups, |
but physicians reported general
satisfaction with his progress lat
this stage of the game"
AS the 35-year-oId Republican
continued his battle for life, the
Government moved quickly to
prosecute the four Puerto Rican
Nationalist Party members ac-
cused of terrorizing the House.
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover said the defendants will
be arraigned at pm. tomorrow
before District Judge James w.
Morris.
Interpreter To Be Used.
I'VE want to get the trial
under way as soon as possible"
Mr.. Rover said. ITO prevent
any delay through language diff
dculties, an interpreter will be
on hand for the arraignment."
A grand jury yesterday in
dicted the quartet after hearing
six witnesses give / hour and As
minutes of testimony.
DR.. Joseph R. Young, chief of
staff at Casualty Hospital, re-
ported today that Mr.. Bentley's
rest was disturbed last night by
the complications of hiccups.
He said efforts are being made
to bring this under control, be-
cause Of the weakening effect it
has.
The physician called Mr.. Bent
ley's temperature, pulse and
blood pressure satisfactory and
said his breathing is somewhat
easier, though an oxygen tent
still is in use.
Mr.. Bentley's general condi-