DEATH SENTENCES FOR 14 PRISONERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 9

DEATH SENTENCES FOR 14 PRISONERS.

SOVIET TRIAL ENDS. Repentance Keynote of Last Speeches. "TROTSKYISM CRUSHED." United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2.30 p.m.). MOSCOW, January 29. "Death, by shooting," was the sentence passed on 13 of the 17 prisoners tried for espionage and sabotage. Of the other four, Radek, Sokolnikofr and Arnold were given ten years' imprisonment and Stroiloff eight years. All the prisoners sought clemency except Piatakoff, Shestoff and Radek. The Courtroom was jammed to hear the accused make their last speeches, which seemed like funeral orations. The speed with which the closing stages of the trial were rushed through indicated an early verdict. Piatakoff declared that the prosecution had correctly stated all the facts but said he was no longer a Trotskyist. "I j wish Trotsky was here to share our fate," he added. c Piatakoff declared that when it was evident that the'" Trotskj'ist organisation had become an agent for Fascism he had desired to leave it. "Dying," he said, "I am no longer a follower of Trotsky. I only regret that this chief criminal is not sitting here with us." The other prisoners declared their repentance and sought leniency. Radek, whose earlier assurance had deserted him, insisted that he was a political criminal and vehemently protested at being tried with ordinary •bandits and wreckers. Ex-Ambassador's Contrition. Differing from earlier reports, which stated that Radek declared he had been tortured, later versions indicate that Radek actually stated he had tortured his inquisitors for "ten weeks by refusing to* answer them. Radek asked for nothing more merciful than death. He emphasised that he stood by the beliefs which led him to the dock. He 6aid lie joined Trotsky because it was impossible to build up Socialism in one • country alone. ,He realised too late that Trotsky was involved with a foreign Power. • He believed it was impossibleto seize the Government of Russia without the aid of Herr Hitler. Radek then implicated Bukliarin, •whom, he said, did not know everything. He indicated that over 100 were involved in the direction of the conspiracy. Radek concluded with a warning to Trotskyites in Russia, France and Spain that anyone who disagreed with the party may next moment be a spy. Sokolnikoff pleaded that he was the first fully to confess, his confession leading to the unearthing of the conspiracy. In a sobbing voice he added: "After this exposure I trust none will ever work under Trotsky's banner. Trot- j skyism is already crushed. I hope the: Court will consider the extenuating j circumstances in my case, though - 11 deserve nothing but the death penalty." EVIDENCE DENIED. TELEGRAM FROM NORWAY, i (Received 11 a.m.) OSLO, January 29. | Konrad Knudsen, a member of the j Norwegian Parliament, telegraphed M. ( "Visliinsky, the prosecutor at the Moscow i trial, as follows:—"It is officially confirmed to-day that no foreign aeroplane landed at any aerodrome near Oslo in December, 1935. As the host of Trotsky I confirm that no conversation between Trotsky and Piakatoff could liave been held in Norway at that time." i KERENSKY COMMENTS. "DANGEROUS COMPETITORS." (Received 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, January 29. Alexander Kerensky, .whose moderate revolutionary Government.in Russia was •overthrown by.the Bolsheviks in October, * 1917, in commenting on the Moscow trial, said that Stalin, who is detested by "old" Bolsheviks, is simply "getting rid of dangerous competitors. Those who confess are tried; others, far more numerous, just disappear. Such trials as that now ending, he says, are usually arranged on tlie_ eve of an economic difficulty. NEW TRIAL COMING. MORE EMINENT COMMUNISTS. LONDON, January 29. A third mass trial in Russia is foreshadowed for April with Bukliarin, formerly editor of . "Izvestia"; General Putna, once the Soviet's military attache in London; Eakovsky, a former Ambassador in- London and Paris; R.nd Rykoff, formerly Premier, as the accused. Arrest of Marshal Tukaelievsky, the "brains" of the Soviet Army, is also expected.