Defense counsel in the seditious conspiracy trial in Brooklyn Federal Court sought today to raise the issue of illegal seizure, following yesterday’s session at which a statement of one of the defendants brought “radio priest” Charles E. Coughlin’s name into the case for the first time.
Leo J. Healy, counsel for several of the 16 defendants, cross examining FBI Agent Arthur M. Thurston, attempted to show that arms confiscated when the defendants were arrested had been seized illegally. Today’s session of the trial featured the playing of records of conversations of the defendants at the home of Dennis Healy, who joined the alleged conspirators as an informer for the Government.
At yesterday’s session a 10-page statement by John A. Viebrock to FBI agents was read which said that John F. Cassidy, another defendant, “was the recognized national director of the Christian Front, having been so recognized by Father Charles E. Coughlin.” The statement admitted that Viebrock and other defendants had stolen Government ammunition and explosives from armories; that they had manufactured bombs and made plans for bombing various places, and that some of the plotters had discussed setting up a temporary dictatorship with Major-General George Van Horn Moseley, U.S.A. retired, at its head.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
