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OL eee met cede at TR Rime ea de ae + Fe: JOHN L. LERIS, ET AL. INTERVIEN WITH was interviewed at his residence, Springfield, Illinois, on the er enber 10, 1943 by Special Arents tas born in He is nov employ presently an officer local, He Would be a good witness because of an apparent intelligence above that of the average miner and a fine ability to express himself, if he would give any information. It appeared to interviewing agents \" that ca deliberately withholding information in his possession,. He wad no erative, and appeared to be distinctly antagonistic to the.,, questions placed to him, He at first denied all knowledge and understand- ing of thc circumstances surrounding the change of unions of the Mine & lecel, and said that he had only been to tvo neetings before the change vas made and Fas not elected one of the new officers. Upon questioning i he admitted being present at every necting held vhercoin the matters con~ | cerning change of wnions at Mine 4 was concerned, and wus also present at thc meeting When EDMUNDCON and FALCETTI discussed a contract, He was present also rhen the citract was prepared and signed but he professed to remember nothing of the conversations taking place or any understanding of the reasons for the change of wmions, The information which he gave was got forth in statement form, thich read, but which he re- fused to sign. He at first stated that ed what he said and then thet it was true to the best of his lmowledge. The statement ie es follora; "Springficld, M11 September 10, 1923. I make the following statement to i vho have identified ther. ives to mc to be pec 7 e Fedcral Bureau of Investigation. No promiese, threats or consideration of any kind has been mde to me to make this statement. I am willing, if neccas- Sary to go to court and repeat any part of this statement. "I am presently omployed at liine f, J have worked there since I wes an officer in the Ph local #51 there, “In September 1941, Elshoff purchased the mine property. At that timc the mine vas closed dorm, due to scasonal closure. The local of the men mining Liine 4 Was a PM local. Up until Elshoff purchased the mince, the men vere well satisfied with the Progressive Wine korkers of america, as far as I know, I did not hear any talk about changing unions, Thc men rere satisfied with the way Ayan and the union got along. J heard of no ideas of chaning until after Elshoff purchased Mine A. oT - G05 - soe mee: tome ate as re ag RTA eT tee LOS ea he stapes FM te 4 rent oN