TREASON TRIAL IN MOSCOW

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22347, 10 March 1938, Page 11

TREASON TRIAL IN MOSCOW

THE MURDER OF MAXIM

GORKY

ADMISSION OF GUILT MADE

BY DOCTOR

(tnciTro prkss associates—copyright.)

(Received March 9, 10 p.m.)

MOSCOW, March 8.

The sixth day of the treason trial opened with, a sensational confession by Dr. Levin, Director of the Kremlin Hospital, to M. Maxim Gorky's "medical murder."

He said that Gorky's murder was carried out directly under Yagoda's intimidation and bribery. Levin added: "Yagoda then demanded that I murder Gorky, his son, and Pieshkov. He threatened me with death. I thought that Yagoda was all powerful, so I decided to obey."

Yagoda denied issuing orders for the murder of Pieshkov and Mendjinsky, but admitted directing the murders of Gorky and Kiubyshev. Levin, re-examined, admitted permitting Kiubyshev to catch a throat complaint which encouraged frequent heart attacks, after which he urged Kiubyshev to strenuous exertion, bringing on his death. Bulanov said he was visited by a man to whom Yagoda asked him to give £4OOO. Yagoda said this money was for Trotsky. The man came five times during 1934 and 1935, and each time received £4OOO on Yagoda's instructions. Kryuchkov, who was Gorky's secretary, in evidence, admitted the "treasonable killing of Gorky and his son."

Yagoda said that as vice-chief of the Ogpu, he supplied secret materials which Rykov and Bukharin used in their struggle against the Communist Party. Yagoda described the fears of the plotters after his removal from the Ogpu and the appointment of Yezhov as chief. Therefore, it was decided to poison Yezhov.

Yagoda, who earlier retracted his confession that he ordered the deaths of Mendjinsky and Pieshkov, admitted his guilt at the evening session, but asked that his evidence be taken in a secret session.

The Judge, M. Ulrich, granted this request.

Yagoda's admission was made after the evidence of Bulanov, hif former secretary, who alleged that Yagoda attempted to rid himself of his political enemies by poisoning.