Webster, Massachusetts, USA
1939 - Kuhn Fails to Appear in Court - Bund Leader Arrested for Drunkenness, Profanity in Massachusetts - Out On Bail After Row With Officer

SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass., July 17 (AP) - A man who identified himself as Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German-American Bund, failed to appear at the appointed hour at the Southbridge district court this morning to answer to charges of drunkenness and using profane language after a brush with a Webster, Mass., policeman.

The clerk's office at the court confirmed that Kuhn had not shown up at 8 a.m. (Eastern Standard time), but could not say whether arrangements had been made to hear his case later.

Kuhn was arrested yesterday by Motorcycle Officer Henry Plasse after the former allegedly had addressed some uncomplimentary remarks at him, and was held for approximately four hours before being released in $54 bail.

One in Group Drinking.

Kunh was with a party of friends at the time, and Plasse said he stopped the group because the man who was about to drive the party's car had been drinking. He said he held the keys until a man who was entirely sober appeared to claim them.

He added that just as the party drove off Kuhn made remarks which caused him to be placed under arrest and booked for arraignment this morning.

At the Webster, Mass., police station, Kuhn gave his address as 178 East 85th street, New York city, which is the building in which the German-American Bund office is located. Sgt. Maxime Millett, who booked Kuhn, said he was positive the man identified himself correctly, as he had compared him with a picture of the Bund leader.

Officer Plasse and Chief of Police John C. Testleman, of Webster appeared in court this morning, but nearly an hour and a half after the time set for Kuhn to appear he had not put in an appearance. His case was not near the top of the docket, however, and at 9.15 a.m. (E.S.T.) his name had not been called.

Kuhn's friends reported he had been spending the week end with Count Anastase Vonsiatsky, a leader of the "Russian Fascist party," who owns a tea room in Thompson, Conn. Several Russian followers as well as German-American Bund members were reported to have been with Kuhn at the time.

The Brattleboro Reformer
Brattleboro, Vermont
July 17, 1939

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