◆ SpookStack

Director 3- 9-13-43 ¥r. COLEMAN of the Department is aware of the fact that a number of the persons interviewed by agents of this office have met with an uncooperative attitude on the part of certain persons desired to be interviewed who have de- clined to make statements pursuant to advice from an Attorney, or who have failed to make statements without being in the presence of an Attorney at the time of the interview. He stated at the conference in my office on the night of September 10, 1943 that if specific instances arose where specific individ- uals were asking the miners not to make statenents to the F.B.I. Agents, that he may contact Federal Judge CHARLES G. BRIGGLE at Springfield, or United States Attorney HOWARD L. DOYLE, and ask ther to make a statement for publica- tion to the effect that such advice would be an oostruction of justice. I did not express approval or disapproval of such a procedure as this. kr. COLEMAN will return to Washington in the near future, and he may take this point up with the Bureau. kr. COLEVAN also steted that if an indictment is returned in this case that he may recommend to the Attorney General that the Attorney General request the Bureau to conduct an investigation of the Petit Jury. In connection with the sele of Mine A by Mr. RYAN of Springfield, Illinois to subject ELSHOFF in 1941, Mr. COLEMAN has requested that the employees of Mine A at the time of the sale to subject ELSHOFF be interro~ gated and statements obtained as to whether they desired to become members ft of the U.K.W. or whether they automatically voted to become U.U.W. members i because of the tactics used by U.M.W. in converting Mine E to U.M.W. vA membership. There are approximately three hundred persons to be interviewed in connection with this particular incident. In connection with the interviews of the miners who were employed at Mine B just prior to the shut dom, the greater percentage of these persons have been interviewed. However, a number of these persons’ whereabouts are not definitely known at the present time and I discussed with hr. COLEMAN whether 4t would be necessary to conduct extensive investigation to locete these persons for intervier, and he stated that if they were not available for interview in this immediate area that no further effort should be made to locate them at jhe this time. It is suggested that the Bureau communicate this information to : the Department so that it can be confirmed by the Department directly with mf Bureau. ir. COLEMAN reised the question as to the possibility of interviews & with subjects in this case, and it was agreed that no interviews would be con-, ' \* ducted with those persons who are considered subjects at the present tine gu. | ‘ unless the Department directed a specific request to do so to the Bureau. “gi w _ r