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LABOR DEFENSE LEADER DEFIES CONTEMPT WRIT
Berger Renews Criticism of
Court in Handling of
'Shore Lynching
SENDS WIRE TO GOVERNOR
Demands Ritchie Clean Out All 'Lynch Judges'
The possibility that Louis Berger, Secretary of the International Labor Defense League, might be prosecuted for contempt of court at Salisbury today brought new defiance from Berger and other Officials of the league in Baltimore.
The contempt charges, it is said, are being considered by Judges John R. Pattison, Robert F. Duer and Joseph L. Bailey, of the First Judicial District, as a result of a telegram sent by Berger to Judge Bailey and describing the Wicomico County grand jury as a "lynch jury" in connection with its handling of the Matthew Williams lynching probe.
The jury reported it was unable to find evidence to convict anyone of instigating or participating in the lynching.
Sends Two Telegrams
As soon as Berger learned today that there was a possibility he might be prosecuted on contempt charges in the First Circuit he promptly dispatched two more telegrams, one to Judge Pattison, chief jurist of the circuit, and the other to Governor Ritchie. The wire to Judge Pattison read:
"Contempt charges are being considered by you against officials of the International Labor Defense. We consider your action as another step to complete the lynch policy of the bosses' judicial machinery after a lynch judge and jury failed to indict murderers of Matthew Williams. The International Labor Defense is ready to bring the battle against lynching of Negro workers Into the very midst of the court where you preside. The court will have to be open to Negro and white workers and poor farmers where our officials are tried.
The wire to Governor Ritchie follows:
"Your judicial machinery on the Shore is making plans to stifle the voice of the International Labor Defense in its cry against lynching of Negro workers. Attorney General Lane investigated the lynching of Matthew Williams for the last three months. We demand that you immediately clean out all the lynch judges which infest your judicial machinery in a state where thousands of Negro citizens live. We also demand that Attorney General Lane make public his investigation of the lynching of Matthew Williams." National Issue
In Baltimore Mr. Berger said his organization would welcome the opportunity to go into court in the First Judicial District and prove the charges made in any telegrams or statements concerning the Williams lynching.
"I have communicated with national officials of our organization,'' he said, "and we are ready to make this case a nation-wide issue."
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