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Philadelphia Inquirer
December 17, 1952
U.S. Marshals Beaten While Serving Warrant -
"U.S. Marshals Beaten While Serving Warrant" Philadelphia Inquirer,
12/17/52
Two deputy U.S. marshals suffered minor injuries yesterday in a
scuffle when a woman and two men tried to obstruct the serving of a
warrant in a building on 16th St. near Vine.
Three persons, who the deputies said tried to prevent them from
serving the warrant, were arrested after one of the Federal agents,
John J. Gericke, had to draw his gun. Later they were arraigned
before U.S. Commissioner Kerny P. Carr in the Federal building and
held in bail for the grand jury.
Three held in bail*
Arrested were Mrs. Helen O'Brian, also known by her maiden name of
Helen Naugerbaumn, who was held in $1000; her husband John O'Brien,
reputed owner of the 16th st. building, who was held in $1500 bail,
and Ernest Kish, of Summer St. near 16th st. Kish's bail was set at
$2500. The O'Briens gave an address of Nole st. near Race.
According to Gericke, he and Levi. P. Gordon, went to serve the
warrant on L. Ron Hubbard, 41, founder of Dianetic Mental Health
Movement, to appear as a witness in a bankruptcy case being heard
before Judge Alan K. Grim today.
As they entered the building, Gericke said, he and Gordon learned
that Hubbard was on the second floor lecturing to about 20 persons,
Gericke and Gordon said they went upstairs past Mr. And Mrs. O'Brien
and met Kish who struggled with them. A few minutes later the lecture
audience began milling about them, the marshals said. Gericke drew
his gun and quieted the crowd.
Bankruptcy Case*
In the scuffle, both marshals were bruised on the head and face and
had their shirts torn. A patrol wagon from the 20th and Buttonwood
sts. station took the O'Briens and Kish to the Federal building. The
deputies Hubbard there when he was released for appearances as a
witness in the bankruptcy case today.
Hubbard, who became prominent two years ago as the founder of the
mental health movement which he called dianetics, gives his address as
the Explorers Club, New York City. He is known as a civil engineer,
mathematician, philosopher and science-fiction writer.
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