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Edna Griffin's FBI file, April 1948-October 1951
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OM 100-4095 ADMINISTRATIVE PAGE On July 7, 1948 MAURICE C. KATZ refused fountain service to the subject and two other Negroes in the Katz Drug Store, Des Moines. As a result of this refusal, KATZ, in a trial initiated by the complaint of the subject, was subsequently found guilty of violating the Iowa Civil Rights Law and fined $50.00. The case is presently on appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. It was the contention of KATZ at this trial that the three individuals, including the subject, had entered his drug store for the purpose of being refused service in order to cause agitation. It will be noted that the Progressive Party picketed the Katz Drug Store immediately after the above incident. On October 10 , 1949 the subject filed a $10,000.00 damage suit against the Katz Drug Company naming as defendants MAURICE C. KATZ and the manager C.L. GORE. As a result of this suit subject received a verdict of $1.00. PAUL STEVENSON, Kansas City, Missouri, defending attorney for KATZ during the latter trial, contended that the whole incident was consummated in the name of the Progressive Party, and that its purpose was to stir up a racial issue in Des Moines, The subject denied participation in the picket line but admitted that she was there during the picketing. KATZ also testified that at the time the three individuals were refused service at the fountain they asked him if he was familiar with the Iowa Civil Rights Law and then said, "We are members of the Progressive Party and we are going to make a test case of this". CHARLES P. HOWARD who gave the keynote address for the Progressive Party at the Philadelphia convention in 1948, was the attorney for the subject. On November 12, 1949 subject filed a suit in the District Court, Polk County, Iowa, asking revocation of KATZ' license because of his refusal to serve Negroes. She claimed she was bringing the action for herself and for other members of the Negro race. The birthday presents for the subject consisted of donations to the Sims Appeal Fund relative to the case against SIMS, a Negro at Sioux City, Iowa. They collected $14.00. It was the contention of the subject and CHARLES HOWARD that SIMS had been railroaded in a trial at Sioux City. Information received from [ ] a reliable source, revealed that a sheet of paper bearing the name and address of the subject was found in the building located at 35 East 12th Street, New York City, New York, which is occupied by the Communist Party. This sheet of paper is being retained in the IA file of instant case. b2 b7D -3-
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OM 100-4095 ADMINISTRATIVE PAGE On July 7, 1948 MAURICE C. KATZ refused fountain service to the subject and two other Negroes in the Katz Drug Store, Des Moines. As a result of this refusal, KATZ, in a trial initiated by the complaint of the subject, was subsequently found guilty of violating the Iowa Civil Rights Law and fined $50.00. The case is presently on appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. It was the contention of KATZ at this trial that the three individuals, including the subject, had entered his drug store for the purpose of being refused service in order to cause agitation. It will be noted that the Progressive Party picketed the Katz Drug Store immediately after the above incident. On October 10 , 1949 the subject filed a $10,000.00 damage suit against the Katz Drug Company naming as defendants MAURICE C. KATZ and the manager C.L. GORE. As a result of this suit subject received a verdict of $1.00. PAUL STEVENSON, Kansas City, Missouri, defending attorney for KATZ during the latter trial, contended that the whole incident was consummated in the name of the Progressive Party, and that its purpose was to stir up a racial issue in Des Moines, The subject denied participation in the picket line but admitted that she was there during the picketing. KATZ also testified that at the time the three individuals were refused service at the fountain they asked him if he was familiar with the Iowa Civil Rights Law and then said, "We are members of the Progressive Party and we are going to make a test case of this". CHARLES P. HOWARD who gave the keynote address for the Progressive Party at the Philadelphia convention in 1948, was the attorney for the subject. On November 12, 1949 subject filed a suit in the District Court, Polk County, Iowa, asking revocation of KATZ' license because of his refusal to serve Negroes. She claimed she was bringing the action for herself and for other members of the Negro race. The birthday presents for the subject consisted of donations to the Sims Appeal Fund relative to the case against SIMS, a Negro at Sioux City, Iowa. They collected $14.00. It was the contention of the subject and CHARLES HOWARD that SIMS had been railroaded in a trial at Sioux City. Information received from [ ] a reliable source, revealed that a sheet of paper bearing the name and address of the subject was found in the building located at 35 East 12th Street, New York City, New York, which is occupied by the Communist Party. This sheet of paper is being retained in the IA file of instant case. b2 b7D -3-
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