Seized M-1 Rifle Linked To Extremist Leader
INDUSTRY, Calif., March 27 (UPI) — A rifle belonging to an “extreme racist” group was found today among hundreds of weapons confiscated by sheriff’s deputies in a raid on a gun factory in this industrial suburb of Los Angeles.
State Attorney General Thomas C. Lynch said an M-1 rifle which records showed belonged to Terrell Eddy of San Diego, was among the weapons seized by 30 State agents and sheriff’s deputies last night.
Lynch described Eddy as “the California leader of the extreme fascist National States Rights Party.”
In addition to the rifle, 373 machine guns and 100,000 rounds of ammunition were seized.
Lynch said at least some of the weapons were destined for extreme right wing groups which have “private armies.”
The M-1 rifle, he said, was left at the Erquitage Arms Co. apparently so it could be converted into a semiautomatic weapon.
Lynch said the group was “closely associated” with the Ku Klux Klan and had headquarters in Birmingham, Ala.
The raid on the arms factory last night was the culmination of several months of investigation. No arrests were made.
There were three employees present and they said the owner, Juan Erquitage, left for Guatemala Feb. 6. Erquitage was once a member of Fidel Castro’s revolutionary forces in Cuba but has since become anti-Castro, the employees said.
The establishment had a Federal license to manufacture machine guns but lacked state authorization for possession, sale and transportation of weapons, according to Sheriff’s Lt. E. D. Villines. He said the factory started operations last October.
State Attorney General Thomas C. Lynch said “speed was necessary in this raid since our office has definite information that some of these illegal weapons were intended for private armies in California.”
L. V. Knudson, who said he had a financial interest in the arms company, denied the weapons were meant for private armies. He said they were going to the Costa Rican government.
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Medal for Fay
PHILADELPHIA, March 27 (UPI) — William Patrick Fay, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, will receive the silver medal of merit from the Poor Richard Club on March 31.
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CORRECTION
The item below was incorrectly described on page A-11 of The Washington Post, March 26, 1961. The following information is correct.
AGRICO 1-2-3
Kills crickets, lawn insects & feeds your lawn.
$8.95
PEOPLES HARDWARE
All 13 Stores.
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Federal agents examine arms seized at the Erquitage Co., City of Industry, Calif.
United Press International