'Race Persecution,' Say Jap Suspects

DENVER, May 10.--(AP)--Three Japanese-American sisters, charged with treason in the escape of two German prisoners of war from a Southern Colorado camp last October, told a Deputy United States marshal they felt they were being "persecuted because of our race."

The marshal, D.T. Potter, said the women, indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Denver, made the comment while he and a matron were bringing them here from Granada Relocation Center where the trio resided nearly two years.

The women are Mrs. Tsukuro (Toots) Wallace, 35 years old; Mrs. Florence Shivze Otani, 33; and Mrs. Billie Shitara Tanigoshi, 32, all formerly of Inglewood, Calif.

The three retired behind stony silence when they reached the county jail last night. They are to be arraigned Friday.