Catherine Heppelwhite

Memorandum DATE: 02/04/1948

TO: WASHINGTON ****

FROM: NEW YORK ****

SUBJECT: CATHERINE HEPPELWHITE

SUBVERSIVE MATTER

Regarding Heppelwhite’s incendiary behaviour during the protest outside Ossining, at this time I would advise against arrest or questioning. The proposed juvenile detention is, in my opinion, not desirous in this case for such a girl will not be rehabilitated. Additionally, arresting Heppelwhite may inform her associates that we are aware of them. Heppelwhite’s blundering attention-seeking has shined a light on far more significant threats and her arrest at this time would jeopardise *********. She has resided in the squat with these four communists for three months now and continues to give our undercover agent detailed information about their activities.

********* provides details of Heppelwhite’s involvement in the occult and her association with three linked groups. We are still seeking clarification regarding the legal position in this case and cannot act until this is made clear.

********* relates to a two week period from 01/05/1948-01/19/1948 during which Heppelwhite and two other women and a man (named in the aforementioned file) performed **** *** on film. Charges are currently pending on two men involved in production and distribution.

Lastly, regarding the seditious material which Heppelwhite has written and disseminated, we believe that she has not quite gone far enough with these articles to warrant arrest. Also, it seems likely that she would welcome the platform to speak out against us and accuse us of denying her freedom of speech if we act on this matter at this time. Heppelwhite is very photogenic, as demonstrated in the case above, and could play on this to garner public sympathy.

SECRET