IMPLACABLE SOVIET

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 63, 8 December 1930, Page 11

IMPLACABLE SOVIET

Closing Trial Scenes PRISONERS SPEAK Pitiful Pleas Offered PROSECUTOR’S WAR TALK By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Rec. December 7, 9 p.m.) Moscow, December 6. Millions of Russians ex it tho death penalty for tlu eight accused professors and engineers in the mass trial when the sentence is promulgated on the evening of December 7, The prisoners’ assumed bravado has now given place to fear. With their spirits broken under the terrific strain of the trial they have thrown themselves at the mercy of the Court In a desperate appeal for their lives. Fedotov, the oldest, is reported to have said tremoulously: “I am guilty. I do not deserve mercy, but I do not want to die a traitor’s death.” Ramzln, allegedly the ringleader, pitifully declared: ‘‘We are not such demons as the prosecutor painted us. but I bow my head in shame and humiliation.” Sitnin, with tear-filled eyes, advanced his sufferings as a plea for mercy. He and Kuprianoffi hoped they would be allowed to expiate their crime by honest work. A talking picture was being taken until the court ordered the machine to be stopped because its noise interrupted the speakers’ utterHDC6S. “Atonement for Sins.” There followed pathetic scenes when the accused acknowledged their guilt and appealed for mercy. Ramzln, struggling for self-control, said: “I understand that this is my last word. I cannot lie a few hours before death. I have confessed fully because I believe it is the only means of atoneme”* for my past sins.” “We, defendants, are not here to fight or to defend ourselves, but to capitulate. Sometimes I feel it is better to die; yet there are times when I long to participate in the miracles Communism is destined to accomplish.” The prosecutor, Krylenko, earlier in the trial disregarded the judge’s ruling that hostile references must not be made publicly about foreign Powers. Krylenko shook a menacing finger at the defendants and shouted the name of “Poincare” at the accused. "Armed and Prepared.” "Poincare has been working hand is glove with the counter-revolution-aries,” he said. “If Poincare wants to know all the details of this plot we’ll let him have them. I’ll' let him know that our people are ready for the worst, and when the time comes we will fight as one man to meet the crisis, armed and prepared.” Confronting the accused, who were stoically smoking cigarettes though visions of a firing squad mtfst ’ have been before their eyes, Krylenko demanded that they all be executed. He denounced them as plotters, grafters and wreckers, and described as a pure fake the French denials of the confessions involving tho French members of the General Staff.. Several of the reports were confirmed by the conference in Paris between Poincare and the leaders of the committee of Russian industry In Paris. M. Poincare’s attempt to dismiss the trial as a Joke was a trivial polemical trick. Krylenko wound up by quoting extracts from Lenin’s writings advocating the death of enemies of the workers.