Woman’s Leap: Soviet Consulate Sensation

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1948, Page 5

Woman’s Leap: Soviet Consulate Sensation

(Rec. 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 12. The police announced that Mrs Kosenkina jumped from, a third or fourth-floor window of the Soviet Consulate late today. The police reported that the woman was alive when carried into the consulate by attaches. Earlier today the Russian Consul-General, Mr Lomakin, defied a State Supreme Court order to produce in court a schoolteacher, Mrs Kosenkina, who, it was charged, was held at the consulate ‘‘through power, deceit, and terror.” Mrs Kosenkina leaped from the third floor and the police say she would have been killed if her drop had not been broken by electric wires.

Neighbours heard a crash and summoned the police and ambulance when they saw Mrs Kosenkina in the Consulate courtyard. Russian attaches were carrying her into the Consulate when the police climbed the fence to reach her. Mrs Kosenkina was taken to Roosevelt Hospital suffering from a broken leg and internal injuries, but she was still conscious.

habeas corpus writ passed without any word from the consulate. 'ln Washington today, the Soviet Ambassador. Mr Panyushkin, protested to the State Department against the serving of a writ on Mr Lomakin, claiming , diplomatic immunity for a Consul-General. Mr Panyushkin's note said the writ made the erroneous assumption that Mr Lomakin was detaining and imprisoning Mrs Kosenkina. Mr Lomakin did noy have the right to compel her. “a free citizen of the Soviet Union,” to appear in court in the State of New York. Later, in New York. Mr Justice Dickstein, who signed the writ, said he had decided to delay further action in the case. “This matter is important enough to give the ConsulGeneral every opportunity' to consult with his Embassy," he said. “It is also important for the court to consult the State Department, because there are some international questions involved."

A young woman, who said she was Dr Lachenko, was barred by the police from entering an ambulance at the Consulate to accompany Mrs Kosenkina. Later, accompanied by another woman and a man identifying themselves as secretaries to Mr Lomakin, Dr Lachenko entered the hospital. The Russians remained near Mrs Kosenkina in the hospital while physicians worked over her, but the police were nearby to get a full report from her. • Police Investigations

Deputy Chief Inspector of Police, Conrad Rothengast, said he was investigating the possibility that she had been pushed. Doctors said that until the medical diagnosis was complete no one would be allowed to question her. A crowd of several hundred gathered quickly outside the ConsulateGeneral. Extra details of police held them away from the building, whose entrance and ground-floor windows were protected by heavy iron gril.’ework. The police cleared a road between the Consulate and the hospital for the ambulance. The deadline of 10.30 fixed in me

Reuter’s Mi scow correspondent says that Pravda gave a half-page to New York rep:..;-; of the alleged kidinapping ol two Soviet school teachers by American White Russians, Other papers carried full reports for the first time.