MOSCOW TRIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 December 1930, Page 7

MOSCOW TRIAL

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FRANCE , WORKING WITH COUNTER. REVOLUTIONARIES KRYLENKO'S STATEMENTS TO • .. COURT (United Press Association—By Electrio Teldfcraph—Copyright) MOSCOW, sth December. The Prosecutor, Krylenko, in the Russian trial, is disregarding the Judge's ruling that hostile references must not-be made publicly about foreign Powers. Krylenko shook a menacing finger at the defendants, and shouted the name of "Poincare" at the accused.

"Poincar.e has been working hand in glove with the counter-revolutionaries," > he said. "If Poincare wants to know all the details of this plot, we'll let him have them. I'll let him .know that our people are ready for the worst, and when the time comes we will fight as one man to meet the crisis, armed and prepared." Confronting the accused, who were stoically smoking cigarettes though visions of a firing squad must have been before their eyes, Krylenko demanded that they all be executed. He denounced them as plotters, grafters, and wreckers, and described as a pure fake the French denials of the confessions involving the French members of the General Staff. Several of the reports were confirmed by the conference in Paris between Poincare and leaders of the committee of Russian industry in Paris. M. Poincare's attempt to dismiss the trial as a joke was a trivial polem- • ical trick. Krylenko wound up by quot- ... ing extracts from Lenin's writings, advocating the death of enemies of the workers. •■._) ..

PRISONERS' SPIRIT BROKEN

MOSCOW, 6th December.

Millions of Russians expect the death penalty for the eight accused in the mass trial. The prisoners' assumed bravado has now given place to fear. With their spirits broken under the terrific strain of the trial they have thrown themselves on the mercy of the Court in a desperate appeal for their lives. Fedotov, the oldest, is reported to have said tremulously: "L am guilty. I do not deserve mercy but I do not want to die a traitor's death."

Ramzin, allegedly the ringleader, pitifully declared: "We are not such demons as * the prosecutor has painted us, but I bow my head in shame and humiliation."

Sitnin with tear-filled eyes, advanced sufferings as a plea for mercy. He and Kuprianoff hoped they would be allowed to expiate their crime by honest work. A talking picture was being taken Until the Court ordered the machine to be stopped because its noise interrupted the speakers' utterances. PATHETIC SCENES APPEAL FOR MERCY There followed pathetic scenes when the la-ccused acknowledged their guilt and appealed foe mercy. Ranzin, struggling for self-control, said: "I understand that this is my last word. I cannot lio a few hours before death. I have confessed fully because I believe it" is the only means of atonement for my'past sins; We defendants are not here to fight or defend ourselves, but to capitulate. Sometimes 1 feel that it is better to die, yet there are times when I long to participate in the-miracles which Communism is destined to accomplish."