RUSSIAN TEACHER

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1948, Page 5

RUSSIAN TEACHER

Leaps Out the Window. “Spy Thriller” More Sensational Mrs. Kosenkina’s Crash Out Of Soviet Consulate NEW YORK, August 12. The police announced that Mrs Kosenkina (school teacher) jumped from a third or fourth floor window of the Soviet Consulate at New York to-day. The police reported that the woman was alive, when carried into the Consulate by attaches. Earlier to-day, the Russian Consul-Genera 1 M. Lomakin, defied a State Supreme Court order to produce in Court, the schoolteacher, Mrs Kosenkina, who, it was charged, was held at the consulate, “through power, deceit, and terror.”

Mrs Kosenkina leaped from the third floor. The police say she would have been killed if her drop had no< been broken by electric wires. Deputy Chief Inspector of Police Conrad Rot.hengast, said he was investigating the possibility that she had been pushed. Neighbours heard a crash and summoned the police and ambulance when they saw Mi’s Kosenkina in the Consulate cojrtyard. Russian attaches were carrying her into the Consulate when the police climbed the fence to reach her. Mrs Kosenkina was taxen to Roosevelt Hospital, suffering from a broken leg and internal injuries, but she was still conscious. A crowd of several hundred gathered quickly outside the Consulate - General. Extra details of police held them away from the building whose entrance and gi ound-floor windows were protected by heavy iron grillework. The police cleared a road between the Consulate and the hospital for the /ambulance. A young woman, who said she was Dr. Lachenko, was barred by the police from entering an ambulance at tne Consulale to accompany Mrs Kosenkina. Later, accompanied _by another woman and a man. identifying themselves as secretaries to M. 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 t.her. Doctors said that until the medical diagnosis was complete no one would be allowed to question her. The deadline of 10.30 fixed in the writ of habeas corpus for the appearance of Mrs Kosenkina had passed, without any word from the Soviet Consulate.

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 1 imnortant enougn to give the Consulate every opportunity to consuU with his Embassy,” he said. “If. is also important for the court to consult the State Department, because here are some international questions involved.”

Admits She Jumped EXPECTED TO RECOVER

(Rec. 8.30) NEW YORK, Aug. 12 Mrs Kosenkina is lying in hospital in a critical condition. She told police that she deliberately jumped from the third floor of the Russian Consul-General building in New York. After the doctors examined her, Deputy Police Inspector Edward Mullins was allowed to question Mrs Kosenkina. . Inspector Mullins, through an interpreter, asked her if she jumped. She replied “Yes.” Inspector Mullins said: “Why?" but Mrs Kosenkina then closed hei’ eyes and breathed heavily, and the doctors waved Inspector Mullins aside. Mrs Kosenkina will not be questioned again until she is stronger. Her injuries are now listed as a simple fracture of the lower right leg, a compound fracture of the right knee cap; a fractured pelvis, and undefined internal injuries. Her condition is pronounced as critical, but,she is expected to recover.

Finding of Injured Woman

(Rec. 10.0). NEW YORK, Aug. 12. The Deputy-Chief Inspector of Police Mr. Rothengast, said that the Russians stated that they were in the Russian Consulate dining-room listening to radio news, which said that M. Lomakin (the Consul-General) had ignored the writ of Habeas Corpus. The Russians said that in the middle of the broadcast, Mrs Kosenkina arose hurriedly. They said that she was very disturbed about what was being said about her on the radio, and that she remarked, “That isn’t true!” and that she left the diningroom to go to her room. Inspector Rothengast said that the Soviet Consulate employees claimed that they did not know that Mrs Kosenkina had plunged from a window until some time later. Inspector Rothengast said that it was an hour and a-half after the time that the Russians said that Mrs Kosenkina left the dining-room that neighbours happened to glance at the Consulate court-yard, and there saw the crumpled form of the woman with her mouth open, her eyes closed and they heard her screaming. The United Press of America says: “Police arrived just as Consulate officials rushed into the courtyard. Police and Russians carried her into the Consulate. An ambulance arrived, and she was taken to hosoital, while moaning, in Russian, ‘Leave me alone!" ” Police sergeant Wesley Abramson said that M. Lomakin, the ConsulGeneral argued heatedly against Mrs Kosenkina being taken to hospital, insisting that she should be treated at the Consulate. Sergeant Abramson said: “We persuaded him.

Was She Pushed From The Window ? Police Asked To Inquire (Rec. 9.40). NEW YORK, Aug. 12. After Mrs Kosenkina’s admission to hospital, Representative Karl Mundt. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on UnAmerican activities, at Washington, declared: “The police should find out whether Mrs Kosenkina was pushed.” Later Mr Mundt sent a telegram to the New York Police Commissioner, Mr Arthur Wallender, saying:— “In view of the many’ suspicious circumstances surrounding her disap-

pearance, her recapture, and her present injury, I strongly urge that the New York, police snail provide complete protection while she is in hospital. “I also urge a complete investigation, wnh a public report, as to the circumstances whereundefo she jumped, or was thrown from the window. “I am advised that no diplomatic immunities of any kind, stand in the way of a complete investigation of the premises and of the direct interrogation of the woman.” M. Mikhail Samarin (the other school-teacher who taught at the Soviet Consulate), told me, in private conversation to-day, he was convinced that Mrs Kosenkina was being held at the Consulate against her will.

No Talk of Suicide (Rec. 6.50) NEW YORK, Aug. 12 Countess Tolstoy, the head oi the anti-Communist White Russian Organisation, from whose farm Mrs Kosenkin was “rescued,” by M. Lomakin (Soviet Consul-General) last Saturday said: “I feel sure that Mrs Kosenkina did not try to commit suicide. She never talked of suicide. I thinli that it was a desperate attempt to escape. Soviet Consul's Efforts To See The Woman At Hospital Fail (Rec, 11.35) WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 The United Press of America says: “The assistant Soviet Consul-General, M. Zot Chepurnykh, arrived at the hospital within half an hour of Mrs Kosenkina’s admittance and he demanded that a pretty young woman, whom he introduced as Doctor Nina Larchenko should be allowed to “look on,” while the American doctors examined the woman. The pretty young woman, however, was not allowed into the examination room. M. Chepurnykh himself spent two hours at the ‘hospital, trying to see Mrs Kosenkina, but the police kept refusing. Finally he approached Inspector Mullins and he demanded admission to the room of Mrs Kosenkina “in the name of the Soviet Ambassador.” But Inspector Mullins again refused, saying: “We are conducting an investigation, and we don’t want any

interference.” M. Chepurnykh then left the hospital. He refused to talk to press reporters. SOVIET PROTEST AT THE WRIT In Washington to-day. the Soviet Ambassador, M. Panyushkin, protested to the State Department against the serving of the writ on M. Lomakin, claiming diplomatic immunity for the Consul-General. M. Panyushkin’s Note said the writ made the erroneous assumption that M.Lomakin was _ detaining and imprisoning Mrs Kosenkina. M. Lomakin did nd have the wright to compel her, “a free citizen of the Soviet Union,’’ to appear in court in the State of New York.

HEAVY POLICE GUARD (Rec. 9.45) NEW YORK, August 12 The police have thrown a heavy guard around the Russian Consulate in New York and also around the hospital where Mrs Kosenkina is a patient. THE MOSCOW VERSION Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that “Pravda” gave a half-page to New York reports of the alleged kidnapping of two Soviet school teachers by American White Russians. Other papers carried full reports for the first time. Molotov Alleges Samarins and Kosenkina Were “Kidnapped’’ Demands Their Handing Over [N.Z.P.A.—Reuter Cable], (Received August 13, 10.25 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 13. The Moscow radio to-day said that M. Molotov protested to General Bedell-Smith (United States) against American “connivance” in the disappearance of Mrs. Kosenkina and Mr. M. Samarin and Mrs. Samarin. M. Molotov insisted on the release of Mr. and Mrs. Samarin, and their transfer to the Russian Consulate at New York, and on punishment of all concerned in . the kidnapping. M. Molotov recounted events leading to Mrs. Kosenkina’s disappearance, and said that the American Deputy-Sec-retary of State, Mr. Lovett, confirmed to the Soviet Ambassador in Washington that Mr. Samarin was subjected to interrogation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which, M. Molotov added, “is thus connected with the organisation which kidnapped Mr, Samarin. The Moscow radio also said: “The Russian public is deeply indignant at bandit methods employed by the American Secret Service in connection with Mrs. Kosenkina. Naturally Russian White Guard traitors feel quite at home among this political banditry. American authorities who encourage unbridled anti-Soviet press campaigns obviously patronise the White Guard bandits. The kidnapping of Mrs. Kosenkina proves that White Guard bandits operate in New York streets with impunity.”

Teachers’ Rights As Political Refugees (Rec. 11.30) NE WYORK, Aug. 12 The New York Times, has an editorial on the cases of the Russian Consulate teachers. It says: “These melodramatic occurrences need to be explored, and they will be. The diplomatic immunities are not wholly clear in law, but there is a higher law that binds this country to surrender the citizens of foreign countries who have assumed the status of political refugees. That law must be respected. Samarin Gives Evidence At Secret Hearing To Congress Committee (Rec. 10.10). NEW YORK, Aug. 12. M. Mikhail Samarin, the Russian leader formerly engaged at the Soviet Consulate-General, New York, who gave himself up to the F. 8.1., was to-day questioned at a secret hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities. This occurred as President T ru " man threw a new. “Red Herring taunt at the Republican Party. M. Samarin told the press that he had testified voluntarily because he wanted to expose the Soviet dictatorship. At a Public Committee hearing. Messrs George Silverman and Charles Kramer, former Government officials, who are accused of supplying information to the Communist spy ring, refused to answer questions on constitutional grounds. . It was announced that the Justice Department woVild begin an investigation to- determine whether the witnesses, at the hearings have been lying under oath.