RUSSIAN TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 141, 11 March 1938, Page 11

RUSSIAN TRIAL

Doctors Eagerly Plead Murder Guilt SECRET SESSION Accused Say They Spied For Foreign States * By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Moscow, March 9. Two world-famous doctors spent this morning at the treason trial eagerly describing their slow murder of political opponents of Yagoda, former vice-chief of the Ogpu. The accused Pletnoff told how he applied unsuitable treatment to Kiubyslieff, former head of the Ogpu, afu r Yagoda had insisted it was desirable to kill him. The defendant Kazakoff confirm ■. Levin’s description of medical muni;■■ - and said that Yagoda told him Mem: jinskx-must die. . Five medical experts are consider.i'c the doctors’ evidence. Maximoff, the last of tlie defendani gave evidence, declaring that he had belonged to the Rightists since. 192* Representatives of foreign were again mentioned in an ollieVcommunique this evening regarding a secret session of the trial. “Rakovsky, Grinko. Rosengoltz and Krestinsky,” it was stated, “testified to their treasonable spying connections with several officials and representatives of several foreign States. Th" testimony identified those representatives, as well as the States which they represented.” Yagoda, it was added, admitted that he organised the killing of Pieshkov. A commission of five medical men who examined the 'evidence regarding the deaths of Gorky and others Submitted their report, finding that tlie licensed doctors criminally and maliciously maltreated their patients so as to procure their deaths. To-morrow the court will hear tlie speech of the Prosecutor, M. Vishinsky. in which he will demand the pedal, y considered suitable for each prisoner. Defending counsel will then speak on behalf of the three accused doctor/ ' Eighteen of the accused, who refused counsel, may speak in self-defence, after which all the prisoners will be ’ invited to make a “last plea.” M. Vishinsky will then make a final speech. The verdict and the sentences 1 are expected to be given on Marcli 12

BRITISH DENIAL

Subjects Mentioned Not Intelligence Service (Received March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. “The British Government,” declared the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, “is not guilty of any breach of agreement with the Soviet. It has not employed in the Intelligence Service- any of the British subjects named at the trial, nor has it engaged in any subversive activities whatever.” He said that he was aware of the prejudicial manner in which the Soviet trial was likely to affect relations between Britain and Russia. He doubted whether the untrue allegations would be believed outside Russia. Miss Ellen Wilkinson (Labour): In view of the fact that many distinguished British citizens, such as Lady Muriel Paget, have been lecturing on their experiences as members of the British Intelligence Service, does that quite square with the Prime Minister’s statement? Mr. Chamberlain: Lady Muriel has had no experience in the British Intelligence Service. Her work is unselfish and humanitarian. Miss Wilkinson: Those of us who know something about her work have reason to doubt that statement.

Lady Muriel Paget’s secretary told the “News Chronicle” that Miss Ellen Wilkinson’s statement was simply laughable and absolutely untrue. Lady Muriel never worked with the British Intelligence Service.