CONTEMPT TRIAL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28056, 25 August 1956, Page 9

CONTEMPT TRIAL

Secret Hearing In New York <N Z ■■te.ss H.xs-.rmr <■!. -nyfianr, (Rec. 9.40 p.m.) NEW YORK. Aug. 24. In a highly secretive and closed contempt of court trial a woman was convicte '. and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment yesterday for refusing to answer questions before a Federal Grand Jury investigating the • acid blinding of Victor Reisel. The woman was Mrs Rose d'Argenio.. Only her name was made known to the press. Otherwise her identity and relationship to the t case were clothed in official silence. Mrs d’Argenio appeared last Tuesday before the Grand Jury and refused to answer a series of questions. She was taken before a Federal judge., who directed her to answer. She refused. She can purge the contempt by appearing before the Grand Jury and answering the questions. The prosecutor, Mr Thomas Gilchrist, earlier had told reporters: “This is a serious thing. Lives are at stake in this every day. One false slip from me or you reporters could mean someone’s life. “There is an ever-present round-the-clock danger of witnesses being killed. “Witnesses are being thorougnly protected and the Government ig sparing no expense, pains or manpower to afford that protection.” The persons behind the acid attack on Mr Reisel, a syndicated columnist who writes on labour affairs, were well-known figures in the underworld. Mr Gilchrist said. “We are convinced they are known racket figures in industry and labour fields,” ho said. He said there was a good motive for killing Abraham Telvi, who. the prosecution has said, hurled the acid. Telvi was found shot dead. His body was found dumped in a New York street on July 28. Mr Gilchrist said that to disclose the motive would reveal the identity of witnesses. Originally, the prosecution had contended that Telvi was slain because he had splashed acid on his own face in the attack on Mr Reisel and hence was ‘too hot.” Yesterday, Mr Gilchrist sa:d that his investigation had developed a new motive for Telvi’s death, but he refused to discuss it.