"MOTHERS' THANKS EARNED BY BUCK WITNESS THINKS," Toronto Star. July 4, 1933. Page 1 & 2. ---- Many Should Be Grateful to Communist Leader for Acts in Riot, Court Told --- ADVISED CONVICTS ---- Accused Man Accepts Deputy Warden's Explanation of "Ruse" ---- Special to The Star Kingston, July 4. - Leg-shackled, in pairs, fourteen convicts came to the court house here this morning to bear witness in the defence of Tim Buck and Adrian Vandergayt, convicts accused of rioting last October at Kingston penitentiary. Buck, who is being tried by Judge G. E. Deroche, is defending himself. He called Anthony Becker as his second witness. Becker was employed at the blacksmith shop on the day of the riot. He said that on seeing a gang of men descend to the ground from the tailor shop, via a scaffold, he had pulled the switch controlling the power in the shop. "What made you pull the switch?" asked Buck. "I pulled it impulsively," explained Becker. Buck had come to the guards and told them in a respectful manner to go to the mail bag rooms, witness said. In the mail-bag room Becker said he had seen Garceau and Behan make speeches. Buck Didn't Speak "If I had made a speech you wouldh ave heard it?" "Yes." T. J. Rigney, K.C., for the crown asked Becker how far Buck had been from the switch when it was pulled. "About 30 feet," witness said. "What was the reason you pulled the switch?" "I saw men coming.from the tailor shop so I walked over and pulled the switch." "What has the men coming down the scaffold to do with the pulling of the switch?" "I had heard rumors." Mr. Rigney pressed for an answer as to the connection. Buck objected, saying that in his estimation the question had been answered.

Mr. Rigney wanted to know what witness would do if he saw a horse coming down the street. "Well," drawled the witness, "it all depends on the horse - " he broke off laughing. The court also laughed, and Mr. Rigney changed his line of questioning.

Becker said that Buck had come into the blacksmith shop and he had asked where he was going. Buck said he was going to tell the officers to go to the mail-bag room where they would be safer.

"Was there anyone else there when Buck spoke to you?" "No, just the two of us," replied Becker. Spoke to Officers Buck had then gone to the officers and communicated his wish for their safety. The officers had spoken regarding changing their clothes, and Buck had told them they could do as they liked, witness stated.

One of the officers had changed his clothes, and the three had left to go upstairs to the mail-bag room.

After the departure of the officers Buck and witness had walked slowly along the hallway and eventually they came to the mail-bag shop, he recalled.

Becker said that Buck did not make a speech in the mail-bag shop.

"You're positive of that?" "Buck did not make a speech in the mail-bag room," said Becker in a firm voice.

Buck complained to the court that he had been taken to the north gate at 7.30 this morning to see Mr. Nickle, who is assisting him with his defence.

"They told me Mr. Nickle had telephoned that he wanted to see me there. I was kept there without breakfast until I was brought here. Mr. Nickle now tells me that he did not telephone.

"I have had no chance to see my witnesses because of this ruse and I would like an adjournment for a few minutes in order to do so. And also to get some breakfast."

An adjournment for 15 minutes was ordered by the court and arrangements were made by Sheriff R. F. Vair to have some breakfast brought to Buck.

A Misunderstanding On the resumption of court, Judge Deroche told Buck that Deputy Warden George Sullivan had explained the circumstances of the ruse.

"It was clearly a misunderstanding." stated he.

"I think it was your honor," commented Buck.

One of the men who some years ago escaped with "Red" Ryan and others, Thomas "Shorty" Bryans, was the next witness called by Buck. Bryans hobbled to the stand with the aid of crutches. Buck asked that the witness be allowed to sit down and permission was given.

Bryans said that he had heard rumors of an impending demonstration and that when the motor stopped he thought it was a signal. He had gone to the dome where Buck, Garceau and others had talked.

Buck had stated that Deputy Warden Walsh had asked him to speak to the men. Garceau, he said, had spoken to the men, telling them that he understood the boys were out for reform and better conditions.

Sam Behan, who was acquitted on Saturday, had spoken about "unity and one for all, all for one," said witness.

"Who said that?" asked Buck. "Sam Behan did."

He recalled that Buck had stooda round during the demonstration but had not spoken until after the warden had made a speech. Buck then told the men that the soldiers would not harm them as long as they kept calm and did no violence.

"You then advised them to collect water because you said the place was a fire trap." asserted Bryans.

Unsolicited, Bryans sald: "There are women and children in Kingston, in fact, in Canada, who should he grateful for what Tim Buck did that day."

"What do you mean?" inquired Buck. "Well, what you did to keep the thing quiet and peaceful," eplained Bryans.

Can't Tell of Bloodshed Mr. Rigney asked witness what he meant by the statement regarding the gratitude of the mothers and children of Canada.

"Well, for the speeches they made - and the way they put things over."

Buck wanted Bryans to elaborate on this but when witness started to tell about prison riots he had been in and the amount of bloodshed there had been the court objected.

Three speeches had been made in the dome, said Wm. McKenzie, another convict, by Garceau, Behan and Warden Smith. After the warden's speech Buck had spoken but witness was unable to say what time had elapsed. Buck, in his speech, had told the men that the warden had telephoned for troops but that they should feel no alarm as long as they behaved themselves, said McKenzie.

Went for His Cake The next witness, Clifford Hines, stood in the box and answered the questions with contrasting flashes of white teeth against the dark background of his face.

Buck asked who had pulled the motor switch. "Is it necessary that I say who it was?" asked Hines. "The man in question is quite wiling that you should," advised Buck.

"It was Becker," answered witness.

Hines said he was positive it was Sam Behan who had made the statement "One for all. All for one."

Buck had warned the men not to act violently and therefore they would come to no harm. This speech had a quietening effect on the men, Hines claimed.

Hines said he had returned to the blacksmith shop to retrieve a piece of cake which he had left there, in case of a siege.

“TO SEND "JURY" TO TIM BUCK'S TRIAL IN JUNE,” Kingston Whig-Standard. March 27, 1933. Page 11. ---- Toronto Organization Demands Release of Convicted Communist ---- TORONTO, March 27 - Meeting for the declared intention of securing the release of Tim Buck from Kingston Penitentiary, and the seven men sentenced with him under Section 98 of the Criminal Code, a hundred men and women gathered in Don Hall Sunday morning. 

Because police had interfered with attempts to rent halls in the city, the organization, which calls itself the "Toronto Mass Labor Conference to Stop the Frame-Up on Tim Buck," met just outside the jurisdiction of the city police, in Don Hall on Broadway Avenue north of Danforth. An active campaign is being planned, to be pushed between now and June when Buck is due to come up for trial in Kingston on charges arising out of the penitentiary riots last October. 

The organization plans to send a "workers' jury" of 12 men to Kingston for Tim Buck's trial, "to see what goes on." It is planned to organize "conferences" throughout Ontario in the larger centres. A delegation is to be sent to Ottawa to place the organization's demands before Hon. Hugh Guthrie, Minister of Justice. The organization is planning to circulate petitions and promote a large mass meeting. A campaign for funds includes the printing and selling at five cents each of stamps, each. bearing a picture of Tim Buck. 

Beckie Buhay, organization secretary of the Canadian Labor Defence League, spoke at length in connection: with the campaign. The chairman was T. J. Simons, secretary of the Toronto Labor party and also secretary of the organization working to free Tim Buck. 

"Shots At Buck Blamed On Cabinet by 'Court'," Toronto Star. April 16, 1934. Page 3. --- 3,000 Cheer Finding Workers' Commission - Guthrie Invited, Absent ---- ASK PUBLIC INQUIRY ---- More than 3.000 men and women workers at a rally under the auspices of the A. E. Smith United Defence Conference, in Massey Hall last night endorsed with cheers and prolonged applause the finding of 41 delegates comprising a workers' commission, or court, to the effect that the Bennett government was responsible for "discrimination at Kingston penitentiary and for the alleged shooting at Tim Buck, strongest leader of labor in Canada, on October 20, 1932."

The meeting endorsed a suggestion that an open public inquiry be held and that the commission be composed of workers and representative classes.

The meeting was announced as "an open hearing on the shooting at Tim Buck", and an invitation was extended to Hon. Hugh Guthrie, minister of justice, to present the government's side. Mr. Guthrie was not present.

The finding of the workers' commission was based on evidence submitted by A. E. Smith, general secretary of the Canadian Labor Defence League and Thomas C. Sims, secretary of the national executive board of the Workers' Unity League together with third person statements of two former inmates of Kingston penitentiary. Fred Collins, labor organizer, acted as interrogator.

It was explained that one of the ex-prisoners who was to have spoken was unable to be present because "the police are still making his life miserable and he is afraid of further trouble." Both names were withheld for this reason.

None Stand for Anthem The meeting joined in a rousing singing of "The Internationale" at the conclusion. In accordance with hall regulations "God Save the King" was played as the meeting opened, although no one stood. Other recommendations, approved by the meeting, were: "Release of the seven labor leaders from Kingston penitentiary and of all other working class prisoners; repeal of section 98 of the Criminal Code: that all political prisoners be given political rights-the right to communicate with representatives of their own party: the immediate re- lease of Sam Car, on sick parole; that the Communist party be given legal status, and that an appeal be made to all workers to build a stronger united front."

The findings of the commission, endorsed by a unanimous vote of She meeting, read in part: "That all the evidence submitted here tonight proves that Tim Buck was deliberately shot at in Kingston penitentiary: that this shooting was not isolated from all the events that went before it; that it was not an accident but the culmination of what we charge was definite persecution against the working classes, which was clearly shown in the discrimination evidenced when brokers were sent to Collins' Bay, while the workers' leaders were confined in Kingston.

"We further contend that this discrimination is still going on and that one of the seven leaders (Sam Car) in Kingston is seriously ill approaching his death because this discrimination.

"The commission considers that Tim Buck was not responsible for the 1932 riots. We stress the fact that two judges and Frank Regan, Toronto lawyer, by their own statements, have substantiated evidence in regard to the alleged shooting.

Attack on Trade Unions "We feel that the federal government was responsible for the persecution of all working class leaders and also for the attempt to assassinate Tim Buck. We consider there was a deliberate attempt to destroy the strongest leader of the working classes in Canada. The case of Tim Buck is not simply an attack on the Communist party, but is an attack, through the Ontario Tory government, against the whole trade union movement in Canada and against the working classes in this country.

"We further find that Tim Buck and his comrades are not criminal and feel that it is necessary to assert definitely that the two hundred additional workers, who are fined in the jails of Canada, not criminals either. con- are In view of the smashing of the frame up against A. E. Smith, we propose that Tim Buck be placed before an inquiry to say definitely what happened at Kingston. We say the federal government should grant our request for an open inquiry into the attempted assassination of Tim Buck.

"The defence of the eight Communists was originally conducted by the Canadian Labor Defence League, recalled A. E. Smith. "The league has since conducted a steady campaign for the release of these men and for the repeal of section 98. "Frequent complaints have been made to our office by relatives of these men, that their treatment was very bad. The league has several times placed these complaints be- fore the federal government, as well as the alleged shooting of Tim Buck. Our petitions have been denied or disregarded.

Said Four Shots Fired Mr. Smith recalled that Buck had stated at the Murray Kirkland trial. August 1. last: "Four shots in were fired at me. One of these know came from a revolver, all I from a rifle. The revolver bullet one touched my hair. The rifle bullet came very close to me. I was locked in my cell at the time, making my bed." Buck had hesitated to say whether the shots were fired at him "deliberately."

"There are 76 cells in that block." Mr. Smith quoted Buck as having testified, "and nobody else was fired at. While I don't say they shot at me deliberately, yet they shot at me.' According to Mr. Smith, Buck said he thought the officers had designs on his life.

The speaker stated that, with a witness, he visited the office of Frank Regan. "Mr. Regan told me." he added, "that after the trial of one MacDonald in Kingston, Aug. 1, 1933, the judge had told him he had been very much moved. I would like to go and see the cell in which Buck says he was shot at. Mr. Regan said Judge Madden told him. Accordingly, the judge, Mr. Regan and Mr. Mackay inspected the cell.

"Mr. Regan told me he saw the bullet marks in the wall and he says Judge Madden gravely shook his head and uttered these words: 'There is no doubt about it they tried to murder this man'."

Collins: "What is the ultimate object of the Communist party?" Smith: "I am not authorized to answer that question officially, but here's my personal opinion: The Communist party seeks to establish Soviet government in Canada." Loud and prolonged applause). "When that is accomplished," continued Smith, "the progress of the country will be assured."

"We should place those guilty of the attempt before the bar of the Working class," declared Thomas C. Sims. The Workers' Unity League decided to throw its forces solidly be- hind Canadian Labor Defence League to expose the attempt on Buck's life, and to make such a united front that they would be scared to menace the lives of any of our workers. We have a legal right to organize the Communist party as the working class thinks fit.

"When we force the Bennett government and the ruling class to take their claws of A. E. Smith and Comrade Buck, the working class will have made a definite step forward."

Demand Inquiry While the commission was out Tom Scarlett addressed the meeting and then called on Mr. Smith. Before Mr. Smith commenced to speak a man who refused to give his name introduced a resolution which meeting endorsed unanimously. the It read in part: "That the government should be held responsible for the shooting and that a public inquiry be demanded into conditions at Kingston; that Buck and his comrades be released."

Mr. Smith criticized the C.C.F. "Mr. Gardiner says that if the C.C.F. gets control, they promise to buy the power. This is ridiculous. When the workers get control they will not buy the power. They will take possession of it and use it the way they want to. It is fraudulent for any person to claim that by any such expedient they can move the capitalist class out of its entrenched position.

"The next great conflict," he continued, "which will be the last, will not be conducted with ladies' powder puffs. There are 30,000 families on relief in Toronto and 50,000 unemployed workers. Women are dying in childbirth through lack of proper care, and thousands of children are undernourished in this city of churches and millionaires."

Mr. Smith stated the workers' court "may be rough and rude now but this is only the beginning. Presently in this country there will be no other court."

He then appealed for financial sup- port. He asked for $10 bills, when none were forthcoming, he reduced the plea to $5 bills, a few of which were handed up. Plenty of one dollar bills and silver were thrown into the plate.

"BUCK SUGGESTS NEW PLAY NAMED 'TWO MEN WRITE'," Toronto Star. March 10, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- Goes Back to Penitentiary in Private Coach, Closely Guarded ---- WONDERS WHO PAYS === Special to The Star Oshawa, March 10. - After a week's stay in Toronto jail, Tim Buck, convicted Communist under a five-year-sentence for sedition in Portsmouth Penitentiary, went back to the big prison to-day.

Cheerful and chatty, the sad-faced little man in his "prison blues" had been taken from the penitentiary to Toronto as a witness for the defence in the trial of Rev. A. E. Smith, secretary of the Canadian Labor Defence League, to tell his story of the alleged attempt to shoot him in his cell at the prison back in October, 1932, when the riots gripped the place. But Buck did not tell his story because Chief Justice Rose directed that his evidence would be irrelevant.

Buck travelled on the C. N. R. to Kingston to-day like a railroad magnate. He had a "private car" all to himself, with three sheriff's officers to look after him. Determined that nobody was going to talk to the prisoner, Sheriff Gorrie, of Toronto, had a special day coach attached to the rear of the Toronto-Montreal flier for Buck and his escort.

Five other prisoners sentenced to short terms were in the penitentiary party but they were put in the smoker with their guards while Mr. Timothy Buck sat down on a nice greez plush seat, and had a car all to himself. He certainly got service deluxe to-day. It is the first time in over 25 years a special car has been assigned to take prisoners to Kingston penitentiary, a railroad official told The Star.

"I wonder who is going to pay for this car?" said Buck with a smile to Deputy Sheriff Clayton and his two guards, as he put on his silver- rimmed eyeglasses to read a newspaper.

"Orders Are Orders" The Star reporter, the only newspaperman with the prison party, was ordered away from Buck when he attempted an interview. "Sorry, but Sheriff Gorrie gave explicit instructions that Buck was not to be interviewed," said an official as he held back the reporter.

Buck was moved into his special car after the train had started. At first, before the train left Toronto Union station Buck sat in the smoker and a guard blocked the door with his arms outstretched. The officer was pleasant and courteous but wouldn't budge. "That's why I am here; you cannot speak to Buck," he insisted.

When Buck was taken into the other coach he sat back and smiled. His blue eyes beamed as he surveyed "private car 2494."

Buck and the other prisoners had been brought to the Union Station in three automobiles. The prisoners were held in the baggage room downstairs till the train was made up.

"Did you see your relations?" The Star asked Buck. "Just my wife for two minutes."

"What about Rev. Mr. Smith's trial?" "Well, twelve men spoke their mind," Buck replied. The police wouldn't let the show, 'Eight Men Speak, go on, but they could put on a better play themselves."

"What kind of a play do you mean?" "Well, the title could be 'Two Men Write'."

"Rotstein was asking for you," Buck remarked to The Star reporter. who failed to recall the name at the moment. "You mean 'Slowmotion Rotstein'?" asked the reporter. "Yes, the bank robber, you know. You wrote him up when he was arrested for robbing the Bank of Commerce at Clinton and College."

Buck paid a tribute to Norman "Red" Ryan. "Yes, I sincerely believe he is a new man in body and mind," he said. "He realizes now that he wasted his life. A Toronto doctor helped him in his education, and I don't mean Withrow."

Special to The Star Belleville, March 10. - After Tim Buck had read the newspapers in his private car en route back to Kingston penitentiary, he took off his coat and sat in his black and white pin-stripe prison shirt writing. Despite the rolling of the fast train, Buck, using a sheriff's brief bag for a desk, wrote several letters. He talked very little between Toronto and Belleville. The sheriff kept the newspaperboy active in supplying him and the prisoners in another car with soft drinks, sandwiches and cigarettes.

"I read In The Star where the police commissioners thought the speech made by Smith at Hygeia Hall, was taken in shorthand, but now they know different," Buck remarked. "We will wait and see what they ask General Draper, when he comes home."

Handcuffed and Guarded At 8.20 a.m. to-day the heavy doors of the Don jail opened and Tim Buck, Communist, handcuffed to a sheriff's officer, walked out, on his way back to Kingston penitentiary to serve the remainder of his term. Five thieves handcuffed together and escorted by sheriff's officers fol- lowed Buck from the jail, and at the Union Station were placed with him in the smoking compartment of the C.N.R. train for the four-hour journey.

Dressed in his prison uniform. Buck on coming out of the jail smiled to waiting reporters. He was not allowed to carry on any conversation. Hustled into a large sedan, he was rushed to the Union Station. The officer pulled down the shades in the car on the side in which Buck was sitting when Buck waved to the reporters. The shade was quickly raised again by Buck, who still smiled, as the car pulled away. The five thieves taken to the penitentiary with Buck are: William Hill, Nick Kurly and John Martin. convicted of housebreaking and sentenced to two years each; William Goddard and John Reid, convicted of theft and sentenced to two years each.