◆ SpookStack

loss. A conversation is sufficient to pi te and the penalty is-muck. heavier than for perjury. This statute is vroad enough to prosecute a person who made any false statement to any OPA employee on any maiter such as rationing or rent even though such a statement was oral and no witnesses were present. ‘ Furthermore, perjury cannot be prosecuted after three years. But during the war, this customary statute of limitations was extended in the case of frauds until three years after cessation of hostilities. The primary purpose was to catch fraudulent war contractors. Ba ™., the government applies this extension to false statements as well, so that any such offense committed as far back as August 25, 1939 is subject to prosecution during the next two years. Not only government em- ployees, therefore, but anyone who during the war had any contact with government matters, including servicemen, may find themselves in serious trouble if the government chooses to prosecute. If the courts uphold the government’s use of these legal tricks, a powerful new weapon for witch-hunting will have been created, This ia the reason why the Department of Justice is so pleased with the con- yiction of Marzani. It is a strange and bitter situation when the Justice Depsrtment, charged with the protection of civil liberties, uses its vast rt the freedom of American citizens. + a REO ee Ge YY Lop of this imcerdant, Toor rened @ Bheet From the Con grvsciesal recod, into which Hep ! J Stat Hiaals read an article by 1. F. Stone en the subject of a Man cated Mar. zanh This man, a month after re signing fram the Riate Depart. ment, was dischurged apd then Indicted under am act of Congress, i pasted in 1944, which cxtendedt MY DAY ~ the Statute of Limitations thrre ri oa Ultien in case of fraudulent war- T iS Co umn Dea s pontract ciaima, He ta not ae. cured af Raving tricd to defraud the CoveraAment, bul ia accuecd . ol faisriy denying certala stele Wit a Very mente made En 20 and 141 Ble. is fou in jal, sentenced ta from oné io three years and deniel helborhdtr—wartete appeal —of the Serious Subject ee nis unaeice or ull know nothing, bul on readuig the arthete 1 feel phat eur crit fipes- tics are being esdanyered Thou fear and urdisipoard prejudice, weoare becoming Che acy thing which we have wondered other prope tor bing = Tis ume we took a fnek af our tees and made up our minds that we can na longer Joke abuue question © uf vace pe jadice or te News differs nee, And tren ef Cweato hel wiles wth the pariical moda Gby Some oae must need ra hoa ae at feat at dy teriy cot how Goake Us aT CF ards yuber we are sfiong rpodph tu Deve ata fret pre pee br Ae will Tene pee &lae Phe reno suRouhena ae deur a by tate 7 Pa oe Dr ‘asap : tae . “ae 7 ra pA, .s 2 : * . : ar a e t r ‘ : - af * pe eat ae RE ing Bo Pies ON pal hm “1. ANON rs wate 6: “salle I ee: ~ - a es