TRIAL OF KOWERDA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 169, 16 June 1927, Page 7

TRIAL OF KOWERDA

FOR MURDER OF VOIKOFF, WHY CRIME WAS COMMITTED. STATEMENT BY ACCUSED. \ _ (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received June 16, 9.25 a.m. WARSAW, June 15. The trial of Kowerda for the murder of the Russian Voikoff has begun. There are 20 witnesses for the prosecution, including four experts. The witnesses for the defence are chiefly accused’s parents and sister. Kowerda was calm and composed. He admitted the shooting, adding: “I am not guilty of murder. I did not know Voikoff. I shot him because of what the Bolsheviks have done in Russia.”—Australian Press Association and Sun cable. THE SOVIET CODE. DEATH WITHOUT TRIAL. LONDON, June 15. The Central News Paris correspondent says an insolent reply to Finland’s protest against the execution of Elvengren was sent by the Soviet. The reply cieclares: “We cannot, and shall not, accept any intervention in the matter of executions made as a reprisal for the murder of Voikoff. Those who come into fioviet territory must know, that they are no longer protected by the laws of their own country, and the Soviet code permits the putting to death of people without trial on tho order of the. police. Elvengren, who fought against the floviet forces, know perfectly well that the official state of peace did not prevent him being a precious hostage. It is tho same for all those whom the Soviet Government think well to imprison and condemn to death.” —A. and N.Z. cable. PEOPLE PANIC-STRICKEN. FOREIGNERS DEPARTING. SPECIAL MILITARY MEASURES. LONDON, June 15. The Daily Mail’s Moscow correspondent says that the-population is panicstricken. Crowds of foreigners are departing. The Soviet is refusing passports to its own nationals. Innumerable arrests continue. Messages from Warsaw state that terror continues in Russia. Special military measures aro being taken. A Press censorship is operating, and even private telegrams are not accepted.—Australian Press Association and Sun cable. DEPRIVATION 'OF TITLE. LONDON, June 15. The Riga correspondent of The Times states that the executive of the Bolshevist Artists’ Trade Union has requested the Commissary of Education to deprive Fedor Ivanovitch Chaliapine, the singer, of the title of- People’s Artist, conferred on him during the early stages of the revolution, because he contributed 5000 francs to the support of unemployed Russian exiles in Paris. The executive says that Chaliapine must now be regarded as standing on the other side of the barricade therefore, they must tear from him the high title of People’s Artist.—Times. BERLIN, June 15. A message from Moscow says that Chaliapine has been deprived of Rus- | sian nationality on the ground that he ! aided refugees.—Australian Press Assoi ciation and Sun cable RUSSIANS IN ENGLAND. MANY HAVE ALREADY LEFT. LONDON, June 14. The Daily Mail’s political correspondent states that Russians compelled to leave Britain since the rupture with the Government decided to clear out with a minimum of delay. All Russian Communists engaged in furtherance of Mosi cow’s revolutionary plots are believed to bo accurately traced, and the authorities are well satisfied with the progress of the evacuation. The bulk of the really bad men have already gone, and the remainder will go within a week.—Sydney Sun cable.