COURT SCENES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 7

COURT SCENES.

HUNDREDS PRESENT. Much of Evidence Taken from Soviet Accused. RUSSIANS PLEAD GUILTY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, April 12. Some 400 people were present at the Moscow trial. It was noticeable that the slogans emblazoned on cotton streamers which usually adorn the Soviet Courts were absent.

The Britishers and the 12 Russians accused with them, all sat together. The two Britishers on whom the prosecution sets the greatest store, Messrs. MacDonald and Thornton, were marshalled as far as possible from their four companions, Messrs. Monkliouse, Cushnv, Gregory and Nordwall, who occupied the back row.

The evidence which the prosecution advanced in the indictment consists almost exclusively of depositions of the Russian accused, and the deposition of Mac Donald, who has not been allowed out on bail, and has, (Tilling the last four weeks, * been in prison without being allowed to receive advice or discuss his case with anyone except the prosecutor, or his own State-paid Soviet counsel.

The testimony, containing direct insinuations of the guilt of the accused, apart from that which was secured from tlio accused themselves, consists of some extracts from findings of the Soviet State Commission and the evidence of two Russians. One of the latter gave part of his evidence in prison, while the evidence of the other consists of a statement to the effect that he immediately handed to the Ogpu the money that he received from Thornton.

All but one of the Russians pleaded guilty and Mac Donald, who was interrogated first of the Britishers (out of his order in the list of accused) also pleaded guilty.

A further session of the Court was held this evening, but a report of the proceedings has not yet been received.

The Riga correspondent of "The Times," writing apropos the pending trial of the Vickers engineers in Moscow, recalls that all "wrecker" trials in Russia have been based on prisoners' confessions secured by the Ogpu web implicating all the accused.

When prisoners have shown a disposition to deny confessions a night spent in the Ogpu's cells has resulted in an alteration of their attitude. Alleged "wrecker" trials are not trials in the ordinary sense, says the correspondent, but public demonstrations of guilt which has been officially decided and proclaimed in advance.

The whole of the members of the Court, even the defending counsel, are ranged on the side of the prosecution. When two defence barristers at a trial in Shakliintinsky, in 1928 broke the harmony and attempted to plead the innocence of the accused M. Vishinsky, who then was a judge, ordered their immediate arrest and trial for collusion and disloyalty to the Soviet.'

Mr. William Strang, counsellor to the British Embassy in Moscow, who is Charge d'Affairs in the absence of the Ambassador, Sir Esmond Ovey, is to attend'the trial of the Vickers engineers. Members of the Embassy staff and stenographers will also be present. LABOUR PROPOSAL. Closer Friendship With Russia May Aid Arrested Men. SOVIET PAPER'S OUTBURST.

(Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON", April 12. The members o£ the last Labour Cabinet have asked the Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, to extend the Russian trade agreement for three months to permit a better atmosphere for the renewal of friendship with Russia, "which may possibly serve the Vickers employees better than threats. Owing to the urgency of the Russian situation, practically the whole of the Cabinet will remain in readiness to be convened during the holidays. To-day's meeting arranged for Mr. Baldwin to calL the Ministers together immediately the trial concludes, and if necessary, to consider the position. This action, it. is stated, would not prejudge the trial and would preserve the basis of employment for 1000 British workmen. . The Soviet official newspaper "Izvestia," referring to the trial of the Britishers, says: "These barbarians, destroyers of machinery and enemies of technical development, will be tried without fear of threats, and the vcrdict will be enforced despite protests and baitings." It describes the British Conservative newspaper protests as "the voice of a naive soft-hearted old lady squealing about the fate of her little saboteurs and spies."

TALK WITH HUSBAND. Mrs. Allan Monkhouse's Hopes And Fears. WILL REMAIN IN ENGLAND. LONDON, April 12. Mrs. Allan Monkhouse, wife of the New Zealand engineer who is one of the accused in Moscbw, is living in Hertfordshire. She had her last talk with her husband over the telephone before the trial. Mr. Monkhouse said he ' was not allowed to refer to the trial. She said he spoke to her about his will "and all arrangements in case —" she could not finish the sentence. Mrs. Monkhouse' said she had been married 20 years and had a girl of 18 and a boy of 12. -She was not disturbed about the Soviet's suggestions concerning her husband..He was incapable of deceit. Madame Kutosova, the secretary mentioned in the White Paper, was her friend. _ • . The accused man's wife said she had a visa and was ready to go to Moscow, but her husband had said her presence would cause him anxiety and embarrassment. ''So lam waiting," she said. "I have wept for a month, but will weep no more. He asked me to keep calm. I do not believe they will shoot him, but if they can. arrest him they can shoot him. What can I do?".