REICHSTAG FIRE TRIAL

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20987, 16 October 1933, Page 9

REICHSTAG FIRE TRIAL

FOREIGN LAWYERS TO BE EXPELLED COURT PRESIDENT'S ORDER (C.NTfED PRESS ASSOCIATION— Br EEECTBIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received October 15, 7.33 p.m.) j BERLIN, October 14. Proceedings at the Reichstag fire trial opened sensationally the President, Dr. Buenger, ordering the expulsion of four foreign lawyers, who were watching the case on behalf of the Bulgarians, because they had written a letter protesting against Dimitroff's expulsion from the court, in which they said: "Dimitroff's experiences in the hands of the police, and examining officers, have been such that he could hardly have any other feeling than scorn and contempt for German officials and German justice." Dr. Buenger characterised this as a monstrous slander. The foreign lawyers, who, after a police examination, will be expelled from Germany, are Mr Leo Gallagher, an American, M. Millard, a Frenchman, and MM. Detcheff and Gregoroff, both Bulgarians. A later message says that the Government cancelled the expulsion of Gallagher, who v/as specifically invited to the trial by Torgler's counsel.

REBUFFS FOR THE PROSECUTION SUPPORT FOR TORGLER'S ALIBI (Received October 15, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, October 13. Wendt, night porter at the Reichstag, shook the prosecution's case at the Reichstag fire trial by supporting Torgler's alibi. He gave evidence that he telephoned the communist party headquarters at 8.20 p.m. at the request of Torgler, who, with the communist deputy, Koenen, and Fraulein Anna Rehme, their secretary, left the building at 8.35 p.m. without hurry, and certainly gave no impression of fleeing, which has been one of the prosecution's allegations. Wendt then related a surprising story of an unnamed deputy who left the Reichstag at 10 p.m., wnen the fire was at its height, showing a deputy's card. He returned a quarter of an liour later to get something he had forgotten. Wendt refused him admission and referred him to a policeman. Wendt added that the deputy, whose name no one in court had enquired about, had not entered earlier by his door.

Many Fires Burning. Alexander Scranowitz, house inspector of the Reichstag, denied that he sent the staff home early, as the communists alleged. He added that when he entered the burning Reichstag he stamped out smouldering carpets. He visited the morning restaurant and went to the cession chamber, where curtains were blazing and flames emerging from the rej porters' box. Forty small fires similar in shape and size were burning on various parts of the floor, this leading Scranowitz later to declare his conviction that one person could not have caused such a fire in the time available. Scranowitz denied being a Nazi. He said the Reichstag staff was not changed before the fire. He added that he found a burning torch, which was interesting in view of the fact that Van der t,iiWv»'r confession referred onlv to firelighters. Thf» nro<?ecution suffered another rebuff when a Doliceman denied that he found a communist membership card or a proclamation card "'hen he searched Van der Lubbe. 'T'he prosecutor insisted that, a Tiro-. Hamqtion card wa<? found, but the constable, who arrested Van der Lubbe, was unshaken.

JEWS' LOYALTY TO COUNTRY INTERFERENCE BY FOREIGNERS RESENTED BERLIN, October 13. "The German Jew is German by feeling and instinct, and will regard it as his sacred duty to work for Germany's welfare, whether or not his sincerity is appreciated," declared Dr. Max Naumann, in addressing the Association of German Jews. He added that German Jews differed from Jewish immigrants. All the sufferings through which they had recently passed did not remove the fact that German Jews were part of the German people. The association w T ould energetically protest against foreigners interfering in German affairs.

POLICE PROTECTION FOR JEWS WARNING IN UPPER SILESIA BERLIN, October 13. The Chief of Police in Upper Silesia has issued a warning that anybody insulting Jews will be sent to a concentration camp. This follows reports of Jews being repeatedly insulted and beaten at night.