REICHSTAG FIRE TRIAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 26 September 1933, Page 5

REICHSTAG FIRE TRIAL

DEFENDANT BREAKS FAST ANOTHER PROTESTS INNOCENCE. “DAY AND NIGHT IN CHAINS.” (United Press Association —By Electric Telegrapn Copyright.) ■ Received 11.40 a.m. to-day. BERLIN, Sept. 25. At the Leipzig trial Van der Lubbe, despite the fact that he had broken bis fast, was still deathly pale and seemed wholly disinterested in the proceedings. Taneff, a shoemaker, admitted that he had been twice sentenced, in his absence to 124 years’ imprisonment lor Communist activities in Bulgaria, but was granted an amnesty. Torgler, on receiving permission to make a speech in answer to the indictment, announced in ringing tones: “I am completely innocent. I had nothing to do with the lire, directly or indirectly. I surrendered the day after the fire to defend myself against this monstrous charge. I fought in prison for seven months to prove ni\ innocence “For five months I was kept day and night in chains. I did not endure this torture because I was strong bodily, but because of the consciousness of mv innocence and my determination to vindicate'my party.” Van der Lubbe, when re-exammed, listlessly answered questions regarding his movements during the week before the fire. Asked whether he told welfare officers that it would be necessary to fire public buildings to provoke storm troopers and inflame the public, he replied: “Possibly.”