Christian Front sedition trial
The Christian Front sedition trial was the result of a FBI raid upon a Brooklyn Christian Front unit that was suspected of planning to overthrow the federal government. On January 14, 1940 the FBI arrested seventeen Christian Front members and seized a cache of weapons and ammunition. More than half of those arrested were members of the US military or National Guard. J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI said the alleged conspirators planed a campaign of terror against Jews starting with the bombing of the offices of the Jewish Daily Forward.
The nine week trial ended with an acquittal of ten defendants and the release of seven others due to the jury not coming to a verdict. One of the defendants committed suicide.
Seventeen Defendants
(ages at the time of their arrest in 1940)
- Michael Joseph Bierne, 32, naturalized Irish-born citizen, married, corporal in the New York National Guard and a telephone company lineman. He arrived in the US at age fifteen.
- William Gerald Bishop, 39
- Macklin Boettger, 32, native of Pittsburgh, Pa., member of the National Guard, either New York or Pennsylvania. Salesman for a washing machine company.
- Andrew Buckley, 34, naturalized Irish-born citizen; sergeant and qualified gunner in Company H. 165th Infantry, New York National Guard, employed as a tailor.
- William Henry Bushnell Jr., 18 unemployed
- John Francis Cassidy, 30 company clerk.
- John Franklin Timothy Cook, 19, member of the U. S. Marine Reserve Corps.
- Claus Gunther Ernecke, 36, native of Berlin, Germany, who has taken' out first citizenship papers. Member of the German American Bund.
- John Anthony Graf, 23, public utilities clerk.
- Leroy Keegan, 37, native of Chicago, a baker, first class seaman of the United States Naval Reserve.
- George Kelly, 24, hotel employee.
- Francis (Frank) Michael Malone, 25, department store employee.
- John T. Prout, Jr., 29, a telegraph company employee; captain 165th Regiment, National Guard.
- Alfred J. Quinlan, 27.
- John Albert Viebrock, 36, elevator mechanic
- Michael Vill, 35, naturalized German-born citizen, Rapid Transit Company chauffeur.
- Edward Lawrence Walsh, 23, Unemployed, private in National Guard.
See also
External links
- "Plot to Overthrow U.S. Alleged in Arrest of 17", Reading Eagle, January 15, 1940
- "18 Arrested by Federal Men in Revolution Plot", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 15, 1940
- Victory Rally Held for Plot Defendants
- Last 5 Defendants in Christian Front Case Freed
- Picture of six accused Christian Front members
- "Fourteen Seized in Anti-government Plot" The New York Sun, January 15, 1940 (photos of the accused)
