A private investigator who said he had been hired as a detective by the Canadian Jewish Congress told a court here, trying Canadian National Socialist leader John Beattie and two other men for conspiracy that he had been the chauffeur for a car used by Beattie and his cohorts for placing swastika placards on the homes of prominent Jews in Toronto.
The witness, John Charles Gerrity, testified he had infiltrated Beattie’s organization on be half of the CJC, and said he had reported the swastika excursion to the police. The incident, he said, happened the night of last September 1, to coincide with a march staged in Chicago by George Rockwell, leader of the American Nazi Party.
Gerrity testified that Beattie had a list of 12 homes of presumed Jews, where he was to hang the swastika-emblazoned plaques. He was arrested after the fourth such action in front of the home of Rabbi Abraham L. Feinberg. Arrested and on trial with him are Robert J. Wood, who is now serving an eight-month prison sentence on another charge; and John Reese, On Beattie’s list, said Gerrity, were the then mayor of Toronto, Philip Givens, and leaders of the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Testimony by policemen supported Gerrity’s evidence. Magistrate Tupper Bigelow, who heard the case, reserved judgment and said he would hand down his verdict May 5.
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