Homer v. Knox

Last November acid-tongued Columnist Westbrook Pegler dug up evidence in Chicago that in 1922 William Bioff had been convicted of pandering, sentenced to six months in jail, released after serving just eight days (TIME, Aug. 21, Dec. 4). This was news because Bioff is western representative and reputed boss of the potent International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes (Stagehands' Union).

Pegler turned his evidence over to State's Attorney Thomas James Courtney. Attorney Courtney promptly wired a warrant to Los Angeles, where William Bioff was watching over the union problems of Hollywood's cinema technicians, and Bioff was arrested. Before Pander Bioff could be extradited, Governor Henry Horner of Illinois would have to sign a writ of requisition. Governor Horner put off signing a writ. Instead, he ordered a hearing to decide whether or not he ought to sign it at all. In Los Angeles, William Bioff was once more set free.

Then Governor Horner postponed the hearing. Then he postponed his decision, announced that he would hold another hearing on Jan. 10. One month after Columnist Pegler's evidence had appeared in print the Chicago Daily News came out with an editorial asking: Why Delay?

Said Colonel William Franklin Knox's indignant newspaper: "Decent people are curious to know why it requires three weeks to determine whether a convicted pander should be brought back to complete a sentence ... for one of the most despicable, filthy offenses of which a man can be found guilty. . . . There is something decidedly rotten when this sort of thing continues indefinitely. . . . The public . . . is beginning to understand what this rotten thing is: THE BRAZENLY ACKNOWLEDGED ALLIANCE BETWEEN CRIMINALS AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS!"

Last week, because of this editorial, Colonel Knox and the Daily News were defendants in a $250,000 libel suit. Democratic Governor Horner accused Republican Colonel Knox of: 1) implying that Bioff's extradition had been postponed for improper reasons; 2) misrepresenting facts; 3) trying to "impair and destroy the influence and power of the Democratic Party."

The suit as filed by the Governor called attention to the fact that Publisher Knox was Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1936. Said Colonel Knox: "This is the first time that I have ever been sued for being a Republican."

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