Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-05-26 | Page 1 | Bombs, Arson Blamed upon Terror Group

BOMBS ARSON BLAMED UPON TERROR GROUP Michigan Grand Jury Planned to Probe Hooded Society DETROIT May 26 UP UP- UP Bombings Bombings- arid and arson were vere charged against the Black Legion Legion Legion Le Le- Le- Le gion today as plans la s moved oved forward to subject the hooded and robed vigilante organization tion to a statewide grand jury investigation Vl While Ue police pollee pressed their Inquiry to to determine whether any mysterious ous deaths of recent years might be traced to vigilante terrorism Wayne Vayne County Prosecutor Duncan C. C McCrea McCrea Mc- Mc McCrea Crea disclosed that raids upon five homes In suburban Ecorse had re resulted resulted re- re suIted in the thc seizure of guns and more literature concerning the strange band In the raids McCrae's office said evidence was found definitely linkIng linking link link- Ing two bombings of recent months with the activities of the Black Le Le- Le- Le gion One bombing was that of the home of Village President William W. W arid and the other of a tavern and resort known as The Whip McCrea's Card Found The Detroit Times today said an application for membership in the Black Legion bearing th the writt written n signature of McCrea was found in inthe inthe Inthe the files file of of the Black Legion M McCrea crea cre J laughed when informed of the n newspapers newspaper's s report It looks like Uke my signature all allright right he- he said he-said sald but but buLL don dont don't t ber her signing it it I have n never ver belonged belonged be be- longed t to the Black Legion The burning of lot Father Chari Charles E. E Coughlin's original origin l of of the Little Flower last M March 17 is being investigated as a possible activity of ot the Bl Black ck Legion McCrea told the United Press today The burning of Father Cough Cough- lin's lins shrine ne is a definite part of our investigation McCrea said We have not as yet found anything definite to connect the fire with the legion but we are pursuing our InquIry Inquiry in inquiry In- In in that direction Blamed named on Wiring iring The original shrine a story one-story wooden structure where the tho famed radio priest gained international fame was destroyed early St. St Patricks Patrick's Patricks Patrick's Pat- Pat ricks rick's day Loss was estimated at but Father Coughlin characterized characterized char char- its intrinsic value as ir Ir- Ir reparable At the time the priest and Royal Oak fire officials said the blaze re resulted re- re suIted from defective wiring What his investigators had turned up concerning the shrine fire McCrea McCrea Mc Mc- Crea did not disclose While the Detroit inquiry turned Into this channel the grand jury investigation at Jackson seat of the state stat prison for southern Michigan resulted in iii the issuance of warrants against four lour men on charges of kid kid- naping and assaulting a W V P A worker Warden Harry 4 Jackson Jackson- of the prison announced the dismissal of two more guards as a consequence of ot the tho Investigation which brought to a total of four tour the tho number who have lost their posts through alleged Black Legion activities Ecorse Raids BalM Net Guns GUllS McCrea's ace Investigator Harry Colburn raided five homes and stores I In suburban Ecorse and uncovered un un- covered what he ho s said ld was ws definite proof of the existence of a chapter of the subversive band In that city Numerous guns i and revolvers ammunition am am- and literature pertaining to race conditions In the schools were found Jackson authorities likewise were Inquiring Into a mysterious fire near the city last night which destroyed a a farmhouse Governor Frank D. D Fitzgerald or or- dered that every state worker proved to be bea a a legionnaire be ni sum n- n manly marily dismissed