Police Seek Traces to Bombing of Speakers at Jewish Congress Meeting

Police authorities here were continuing their efforts today to determine the origin of two bombings that occurred Thursday night against the homes of two Christian ministers who were addressing a meeting held by a chapter of the American Jewish Congress-here. The meeting, at Temple Sinai, had been called to discuss “The Extreme Right–a Threat to Democracy?” Anti-Semitic leaflets were spread over the lawn facing the synagogue while the meeting was under way.

The bombs had damaged the homes of the two ministers, the Rev. John G. Simmons and the Rev. Brooks Walker, but no one was injured. A third speaker at the meeting was film actress Marsha Hunt. According to Miss Hunt. crudely lettered posters, linking the United Nations emblem with the Star of David and the Communist hammer-and-sickle symbol, were also scattered while the meeting was in progress. Miss Hunt is president of the San Fernando chapter of the American Association for the United Nations.

Police here said today that only tiny parts from the bombs used have thus far furnished any clue to the perpetrators of the bombing. The homes of the two ministers as well as of Miss Hunt were being guarded. Police Inspector Edward Walker said today he was not certain whether the bombing had been done by followers of right-wing groups or by Communists. Spokesmen for both the Communist Party and the John Birch Society denied any of their followers were involved.

(A statement issued in New York today by Dr. Joachim Prinz, national president of the American Jewish Congress, said the bombings marked “an ominous, new phase in the campaign of the extreme right wing to destroy the liberties of the American people.” He blamed “fanatics of the Right” for the bombings, declaring: “By their resort to violence, they have sought to silence all those Americans who would defend the rights and freedoms which are every citizen’s birthright in this country. The anti-Semitic leaflets spread on the lawn of the synagogue where the meeting took place add an ugly footnote to the story.”)