ASSASSINS EXECUTED

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1934, Page 5

ASSASSINS EXECUTED

NAZIS DIE DEFIANT Resistance Ended (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) VIENNA, July 31. The Court found Holzweber guilty of high treason, as ringleader of the gang whose only object in bursting into the Chancellery, must have been to arouse feelings leading to civil war. Murder was clearly proved in the case of Planetta. experts having shown his contention that he accidentally fired the second shot, was impossible and that he used a deadly weapon at short range. The Court found Ihe absence of previous convictions a point in favour of the accused. A transcript of the evidence shows that Planetta admitted there was no question of self-defence. He did not intend to shoot, but someone jogged his arm, and the gun went off, Dollfuss fell. Planetta vainly tried to get a doctor, then helped to dress the Chancellor’s wounds. Asked to make a final statement before the verdict, Planetta. said: \\ bat 1 have done has been for the country. lam not a cowardly murderer. I did not want to kill as an individual. lam sorry for Doll fuss, and beg pardon of Frau Doll fuss.

Holzweber declared: I only participated in the action because I was told Rintelen would be at the Chancellery, a new Government had already been .formed, and blood would not bo shed. I take the responsibility for all I have done, and am willing to accept the consequences.

Counsel for defence in addition to protesting against the Court’s rejection of all his applications, appealed on behalf of Nazism, saying: I do not accept the new law of treason formulated under the new constitution. A< - cuseds’ ideal can be expressed in one sentence, namely:—One people, and one Empire, which is the Nazi slogan. Planetta and Holzweber, unshaven, and standing grimly at attention, heard the death sentence without a quiver. The Judge gabbled the sentence inaudibly, as if reading a routine message. The accused marched out erect, and apparently unmoved, guarded by steel-helmeted infantry, armed with fixed bayonets and Lewis guns. THE EXECUTIONS. VIENNA. July 31. Planetta and Holzweber made petitions for clemency which were rejected. They were later hanged Holzweber, who was hanged first, affectionately farewelled his wife saying: “A great cause is at stake. Germany must either become great, or perish.” Both men went to the scaffold in Ihe gallows court a tiny quadrangle corner »of Landesgerich. They were unpinioned and not b’indlolded. the chaplain murmering spiritual consolation.

As the noose was placed on hts head. Holzw-eber shotted several times, loudly enough to be heard throughout the prison, “Hail Hitler! ” Holzweber was ten minutes i,i dying as the gallows, which was only a noose attached to a plank, did not include a neck-breaking drop as in England. Planetta a'so ded crying “Hail Hitler!” Guards outside the prison were doubled during the execution. REQUIEM MASS. AT LONDON CATHEDRAL. LONDON, August 1. Officials of the Foreign Office represented Mr Baldwin at the Requiem, Mass for Doctor Dollfuss at Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Bourne officiated. The service was conducted as if Doctor Dollfuss’s body rested in a coffin in front of the altar rails. German Complicity IN THE REBELLION DOCUMENTARY PROOF SECURED. fßeceived August 1 at 10.20 p.m.l VIENNA, August 1. Herr Adam, Minister of Propaganda. in a broadcast address, disclosed that the Government of Austria has obtained documentary proof of German complicity in the rising. The Minister said: “A German subject, Franz Keel, of Munich, has been arrested in Upper Silesia. He was arrested on July 25. and he was discovered to possess complete plans for the “Putsch” party written in cypher. These were hidden in the soles of his shoes and on the inside of his shirt. The fictitious broadcast of the Austrian Government’s resignation was to be the signal for a rising and for the capture of the Chancellery. ’ ’ GERMAN ARMS IN AUSTRIA. SMUGGLED THROUGH SWITZERLAND. BERLIN, July 31. The Swiss Charge D’Affaires here has presented a Noto to Germany strongly protesting agdnst the smuggling of explosives from Germany into Austria through Switzerland. He produced evidence sh • ' ing tlwit there has been much >nch smuggling of explosives and also of propaganda. He added that one German and two Austrians have been arrested in Switzerland in connection with this trafVIENNA. July 31. Austrian Nazis entrenched in Carinthia withdrew during the night into Yugo Slav territory, where they were disarmed. They will be transported to Macedonia. There are no longer any armed Nazis in Carinthia. Nazi refugees in Yugo S’avia are estimated at two thousand. LONDON, August 1. Thp British United Press Vienna correspondent says that Dr. Anton Rintelen has beeu dismissed from the

Government's service. He will be pensioned at two-thirds of the normal rate. N.Z. REPRESENTATIONS. WELLINGTON, August 1 A deputation called by the Council Against Fascism and War approached the German Consul. Mr Penselen at Wellington, protesting against the miprisonment in Germany of Thaeltnann and Torglor. It made its way upstairs and sang the “Red Flag” then withdrew as the office was too small to hold between 30 and 40 composing the deputation. Three men were afterwards sent up. A red flag was hoisted on the ITuddart Parker building in which Mr Pensoler has his office, but it was promptly hauled down. Thera was no disorder.