The Moscow Inquisition

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 105, 15 April 1933, Page 7

The Moscow Inquisition

Charges of Bribery and Wrecking

WORD OF RUSSIANS AGAINST BRITONS

Vickers Men Deny the Accusations

“Pravda ” Biands White Paper as Lies

(Received 15, 12.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, April 14. The Court sat on Good Friday, this not being recognised as a holiday by Soviet Russia. It appears that the judges decided, despite MacDonald’s later withdrawal, that his original plea of guilty still holds good. Dolgov, the middle-aged controller of the electrical inspection department, gave evidence that Thornton on July 12, 1932, gave him a bribe of 3000 roubles. “Thornton,” he said, “opened a drawer, exposing the money. The blood rushed to my eyes and I then decided to take the money, but the same day 1 informed the authorities and handed the money to the procurator.” Thornton, questioned, admitted that he gave Dolgov money, but insisted it was only a loan in response to Dolgov’s entreaties, as he wanted to buy a flat. “I categoiic.ally deny that it was in anywise a bribe,” he declared. Dolgov admitted that Thornton had not asked him to perform any service for the money. “I understood that 1 was expected to conceal defects found in Vickers’ machinery,” he said. “Nobody else employed by Vickers ever offered me money.” Dolgov’s evidence was the first taken in the case, either documentary or otherwise, from any person other than those actually accused. Led by the prosecutor, Dolgov .described in a confident manner the circumstances in which the alleged bribe was given by Thornton. FLAT CONTRADICTIONS. Thornton and Monkhouse were then cross-examined on the subject. After Thornton had reaffirmed that the sum of 3000 paper roubles involved was a loan which was not subsequently repaid, the prosecutor summed up by saying : “Dolgov confirms everything; Thornton denies everything. ’ ’ Monkhouse, on being questioned, supported Thornton’s explanation, stating that at first he did not regard the sum given as a present, since he had considered Dolgov an honest man. The evidence of another of tho Russian accused who had pleaded guilty, Kotliarevski, was then called. He described his acquaintance with MacDonald at Zuevka and alleged that he had received various sums of money from MacDonald in return for providing him with building plans and for undertaking wrecking work, which he claimed he carried out on MacDonald’s instructions. He was subsequently interrogated by Monkhouse, who pointed out that directly after certain breakdowns which Kotliarevski mentioned had taken place Metropolitan Vickers’ Moscow office had telegraphed to London for spare parts. CASE AGAINST NORDWALL. Lobanov’s evidence was next called. He, like all the other Russian accused who had pleaded guilty in this case, described his anti-Soviet views as being taken advantage of by one of the MetroVickers employees in this ease— Nordwall, with whom he worked at Ingres. He described at length wrecking works which he alleged he had undertaken on Nordwall’s instruction and for which he said I he had received 5000 roubles from Nordwall as well as a fur eoat. Nordwall completely denied everything that Lovanov had said, pointing out that he had, in fact, attempted to dissuade Lobanov from his anti-Soviet views. He explained the transaction in-

volving the fur coat as taking place through a third party to whom it belonged, an English fitter, who was paid for it by Lobanov. He added: “1 think that any i man-would have done the same in my place.” The examination of Lobanov was then continued. It was led by the prosecution to reaffirmations by him of Nordwall’s supposed anti-Soviet views and alleged plan for machine wrecking. WRECK ING ORGANISATION The rest of the morning session was occupied with an examination of Lebedev, another of the Russian accused, who is claimed by the prosecution to have participated, with Lobanov, in a wrecking organisation at Ivgres under Nordwall’s instructions. Kotliaresvky, who is a dullwitted young man, was head of the turbine department of the Zuevka electricity works. He declared that his “downfall” began with the arrival of MacDonald, who requested him to conceal defects in oil pumps and to remain late at the works and throw scrap iron, nails and stones into the generators. Monkhouse intervened, explaining that the Moscow office of Metro-Vickers ordered replacement parts from London to enable defects immediately to be remedied. The prosecution retorted that the parts were ordered only after a Russian commission of experts commenced inquiries. Kotliarcvsky declared that he received 1000 roubles from MacDonald for throwing a bolt into a generator. MacDonald, when questioned, admitted that he knew that Kotliarevsky wrecked it. Monkhouse declared that a bolt was missing from the generator casing and suggested that it had fallen and was not thrown into the motor. The “Pravda,” in an editorial, writes as though the trial were practically over. It brands the British White Papers as official lies, and claims that the accused’s guilt is beyond question. “The British spies were caught redhanded and can now merely lie unintelligibly. It was not for nothing that Britain feared an open trial.” UNORTHODOX METHODS REPORTS CENSORED (Received April 15, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 14. A British Umtedl Press message states that defending counsel take voluminous notes, but pay little, though Mui'khouse’s and Thornton’s counsel several times elicited facts useful to their clients. The proceedings are unorthodox, the accused cross-examining each other simultaneously. Thirty-five foreign journalists are transmitting record reports, all of which must be submitted to the censor for perusal and signature. The newspaper “Isvestia” says: “Good Friday broadcast prayers will not help tho accused. The only phase of the Easter story applicable to tho case is Judas and the 30 pieces of silver.” MRS BONNEY LEAVES DARWIN (Received April 15. 12.55 p.m.) DARWIN. April 15. Mrs Bonney left at 6.50 this morning on the. 'first hop to Koepang in good weather and with a following wind