Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 36, DeMotte, Jasper County, 5 August 1949 — Juror Bares Quizzing By Two Strangers [ARTICLE]

Juror Bares Quizzing By Two Strangers

Witness Says He Was Contacted Near Federal Court Building During Trial Kalamazoo, Mich., Aug. 4. A “ttrird - juror —in - the dramatic riot' conspiracy trial of five CIO United Steelworkers chieftains, which ended Monday with a deadlocked jury, today disclosed that he had been questioned twice about the trial by mysterious strangers during the 29 day hearing. The disclosure came as Judge Raymond W. Fox announced that reports of approaches made to two other jurors, both women, have been turned over to prosecutor John M. Pikkaart of Kalamazoo county. Pikkaart said he could not comment on the possibility of an investigation until he confers with Cair S. Beebe, special prosecutor in the trial; Women Deny Reports Meanwhile, Judge Fox was visited by seven irate women jurors. They charged that the statements that the jury leaned 9 ! to 3 for acquittal before it finally j reached a hopless 6 to 6 dead- 1 lock, after 14 hours of delibera-: tion, were “absolutely false.” This 1 picture had been given to re-1 porters by the only two men on the jury, Ralph Wilkins, foreman, I of Kaamazoo, and George W. Dunkiey of Richland, Mich. Both voted for acquittal. The women jurors, who were closeted for two hours with the judge, disclosed • that early bal- ■ luting showed seven of the jurors favoiing a guilty verdict, four for acquittal, and one undecided. They told the judge that one of the two male jurors—he was not indentified repeatedly insisted the trial was “an effort to break up labor unions in this area. Seven Hurt In Riot Defendants in the case were Thomas Shane, Michigan director of the USW; Glen Sigman, union I international representative, and Field Representatives Clarence Jackson, Arthur Menozzi, and Robert L. Farmer. They are charged with inciting the goon raid on the Shakespeare* company here last Dec. 1, in w’hich seven nonstrikers were hurt, automobiles j overturned, and company property destroyed. Charges against them were set j over for the September term of court by Judge Fox after the deadlocked jury was discharged and a mistrial declared. Ihe story of the mysterious strangers was told b>* Herbert A. i 1 arnow ,of Kaamazoo, a retired Railway Express agent. Tarnow was one of two alternate jurors discharged last Friday before the jury began its deliberations.

Tarnow, who is partly crippled, said he was first approached July at a downtow r n Kalamazoo corner, only 100 feet from the court building. 'A flashily dressed man about 45 years old walked up and asked me if I was a jury,” said Tarnow, “I told him I was not, but be insisted he had heard I was to be the foreman. V, hen he asked me my name, I gave him a false one and told bim I lived in a small town near Kaamazoo,” Tarnow expained. Then he questioned me closely about the-small town, apparently trying to make sure I knew it. ended up by insisting that "’as Convinced I was • a jury member.” The next afternoon, Tarnow another flashily dressed man '■•th marcelled hair came up to him m the park adjoining the court building and asked, “How is the case ’going?”