Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1920 — U. S. NABS RED CHIEF IN RAID [ARTICLE]

U. S. NABS RED CHIEF IN RAID

Bomb Squad io > hicage Seizes John Alexander, Ados ta Grance. CALLED WURCurs BIG FISH Immigration Commissioner Says It la Most Important Arrsst uin-s Signing of the Armistice. Chicago, Ang. 6. —John Alexander, cllas John La Grance, said by federal lusthorUles to be the most Important suspect taken in their search for anarchists since the signing of the armistice, was seized by members of the bomb squad and turned over to Immigration Commissioner Harry Landis. He will be arraigned as an enemy alien and his deportation sought, Landis declared. Alexander Is charged with evading the draft, circulating anarchist and communist literature, spreading German propoganda and obtaining false passports for two brother members of the German communist party. He la said to be an I. W. W. agitator and has edited several radical publications. The bomb squad, consisting of Detective Sergeants Egan, Thorpe and Frenlcke, arrested Alexander shortly before noon at 1958 Hudspn avenue. Trailed From New York.

Acting on information that Alexander was distributing literature of the German communist party In New York city, Sergeant Egan went to New York several weeks ago. On his arrival there he learned that Alexander intended to come to Chicago, and decided to avoid extradition proceedings by permitting his quarry to pay bls own fare to Chicago. Alexander arrived, here early this week, it is said, and Egan, after watching his actions, arrested him. When the selective service law went into effect in 1917 Alexander, who waa then living in New York, fled to the Catskill mountains, where he remained In hiding for several months, emerging us John La Grance. He was active, government agents say, in I. W. W. circles and later in various branches of the communist party. The police of several cities were on his heels on innumerable occasions, but he evaded them each time. Forging Passports Charged. About six months ago he succeeded In forging passports for two German communists named Hoffman and Burton, enabling them to leave the country, it Is charged. Since then they have supplied him with quantities of German communist literature, it is said. » Alexander Is a Russian by birth, but lived in Englund for several years and was in Germany at the outbreak of the war.