ON MURDER TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1932, Page 8

ON MURDER TRIAL

NINE NAZIS CHARGED.

Sequel to Political Outrage in Germany. VICTIM BEATEN TO DEATH. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 21. "The Times" correspondent in Berlin states' that the first trial under the new decree imposing the death penalty for terrorist crimes has begun at Beuthen, where nine Nazis are charged with the slaying of a Communist named Pietrzuch, who was killed in Silesia two hours after the decree came into force. The prisoners nonchalantly and cheerfully exchanged the Fascist salute and greetings. Senior Nazi officials were present in the Court. The evidence showed that Pietrzuch was poverty-stricken and slept in a room with his brother and mother, who declared that they were awakened by the entrai.ee of armed men. They saw the victim dragged from his bed and beaten to death. A doctor gave evidence that Pietrzuch had 29 wounds in his face, which had been poked with a broken billiard cue. He had also a shot wound in the arm. He was killed by a boot-heel severing an artery in the throat.

The local Nazi newspaper says that if the Court dares to pass a single death sentence a storm will be raised throughout Germany, with incalculable results.