RATHENAU MURDER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 October 1922, Page 5

RATHENAU MURDER.

A PATHETIC EPISODE.

COURT IN TEARS,

BY CABLE—PRESS AiSNOOJATT<TV—• env VRIGKI

A ~-.'- 'BERLIN, Oct. 13. A pathetic episode occurred" during the closing scenes at the trial of Dr. Rathenau' s murderers. The defending counsel read a letter which the aged mother of Dr. Rathenau wrote to the mother of Ernest Techow, against whom the Public Prosecutor is demanding the death sentence.

Frau Rathenau wrote: "In indescribable pain I stretch out my hand to you, most miserable of all women. Tell your son I pardon him in the name and spirit of his victim. May God pardon him if he makes a full confession to earthly judges and awaits the Divine Judge with contrition. If your boy had known my son—the noblest creature who walked earth—sooner than turn a deadly weapon against him he would have turned it against himself. May these words bring peace to your soul."

Tears were in the eyes of the judges as the letter was read. Afterwards Techow, when asked if he had anything to say, replied: SI told the court the truth. I greatly reproach myself for my action and await-the court's just punishment." '

It is expected the appeal to the court's feeling^ will be successful. Three out of the nine judges have already declared that they will not vote for the death penalty. Seven out of nine must agree to a capital sentence under German law.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BERLIN. Oct. 14,

The Rathenan murder trial has ended. Techow senior was sentenced to fifteen years; Guenther to eight years; Sneidrig and yon Salmon to five years; Techow junior to four years; Tillesden to three years; and Sehuett and Diestel to two months. The others were acquitted.