Gus Hall

Released

Date of birth:08. 10. 1910

Date of death:13. 10. 2000

Age:90^{† Deceased}

Gender:Male

Race:White

Era:1940s

Time Imprisoned:

9 Years 4 Months 22 Days

Support

Communism Communist Party USA

Biography

ONE OF TWELVE COMMUNISTS SENTENCED UNDER DENNIS V. UNITED STATES:

Gus Hall, a leader of the communist Workers' Party, along with eleven other party leaders were found guilty for advocating the violent overthrow of the United States. None of the defendants ever directly advocated to overthrow the government, but the prosecutor claimed that by supporting an ideology that advocated for violence, they also did by extension. The defendants claimed that their First Amendment freedom of speech rights were violated and they served no "clear and present danger to the nation".

They were found guilty and each sentenced to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court who affirmed the lower court's verdict.

Case

United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth

Charges: Conspiracy to advocate violent overthrow of the U.S. government and to organize the CPUSA to teach the same — Smith Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2385 (Foley Square / Dennis trial)

Arrested: Jul 19, 1948

Sentenced: Oct 20, 1949

Incarcerated: Oct 20, 1949

Released: Mar 14, 1959

Sentence: 5 years + $10,000 fine + 3 years bail jumping

Judge: Hon. Harold R. Medina

Indicted: Jun 28th 1948

Convicted: Yes

Institution State: Kansas