How would you interpret this phrase?
In a letter received this week from Federal Investigator Melvin C. Myers, the Asheville Trumpet has learned local writer Harrison Shepherd faces numerous charges related to his Communism. Foremost among them is misrepresentation of qualifications in signing an affidavit that he had never been a Communist. He is further charged with falsifying qualifications to serve as an educator. The press release from Myers stated a subpoena will soon be sent to Shepherd with arrangements to follow regarding a hearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee in Washington, D.C.

How would you interpret this phrase “a subpoena will soon be sent to Shepherd with arrangements to follow” in the last sentence?
Does it mean a subpoena will soon be sent to the man to make him follow the arrangements listed on the subpoena?
OR does it mean a subpoena will soon be sent to the man and after that arrangements will be sent to him too?
I think it means the former. What do you t hink?
Thanks.

Question

How would you interpret this phrase?
In a letter received this week from Federal Investigator Melvin C. Myers, the Asheville Trumpet has learned local writer Harrison Shepherd faces numerous charges related to his Communism. Foremost among them is misrepresentation of qualifications in signing an affidavit that he had never been a Communist. He is further charged with falsifying qualifications to serve as an educator. The press release from Myers stated a subpoena will soon be sent to Shepherd with arrangements to follow regarding a hearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee in Washington, D.C.

How would you interpret this phrase “a subpoena will soon be sent to Shepherd with arrangements to follow” in the last sentence?
Does it mean a subpoena will soon be sent to the man to make him follow the arrangements listed on the subpoena?
OR does it mean a subpoena will soon be sent to the man and after that arrangements will be sent to him too?
I think it means the former. What do you t hink?
Thanks.

Answer

I agree with you.

But it is not written as clearly as it could be.

Answer

A subpoena is a United States legal process that a court uses to make a person provide things, such as documents, or to provide testimony in a hearing or a deposition.  So I interpret the last sentence as meaning that the subpoena will be issued to Shepard, informing him that he is going to have to provide documents or testimony, and then afterwards, the arrangements of what he will be required to provide or where he will be required to provide testimony will follow.  The sentence isn't very clear, though, so I am not sure if my interpretation is correct or not.