FEATURES OF TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 9

FEATURES OF TRIAL

CONTRADICTORY STORIES SPYING AND WRECKING CONFESSIONS REPUDIATED "MADE UNDER PRESSURE" l By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April It. 7.5 p.m.) 1 British Wireless RUGBY. April 13 In tho course of tho Moscow trial to- ,• day the luncheon adjournment was fol- ; lowed by a change in Mac Donald's bo- ? haviour, which was remarked by all ob--1 servers in Court. He not only admitted ; the charge of espionage, but stated also that the collective information involved I was suggested by Thornton and that ho > piesumed the other \ ickers engineers ' wero implicated. Mac Donald also admitted giving inI structions for machino wrecking. Tho prosecutor then examined Thornton in reference to Mac Donald obtaining infoi mation about tho production of munitions. Thornton said this sugges- • tion was "an absolute lie." He also repudiated 'any part of his previous depositions which admitted " any kind of espionage activities." Alternately tho examination of MacDonald and Thornton was continued. Mac Donald accepted almost all tho suggestions put to him by the prosecu--1 tor which, however, were strenuously denied by Thornton in his turn. Accusations and Denials At one stage a specific list of planned breakdowns was read to Mac Donald from tho depositions made by him in prison and confirmed by him into the mouth of the microphone. Thornton again refused to confirm " accusations which ho had read and signed " beforo leaving prison. He explained that the j confessions which he had mado wero I given in different surroundings which had frightened and influenced him into saying things he now wished to change. The President of the Court observed: j " You are sure that you are not getting ! this from somebody else?" j Thornton and Mac Donald wero furi ther questioned about monetary trans- ; actions and tho former was able to produce documentary evidence that a large sum for which he had bought roubles privately at a rate representing their greatly depreciated value and had lent to Mac Donald had been repaid by tho latter. Mac Donald Involves Monkhouse Mac Donald, however, yielded to the prosecutor's suggestion that this was not tho only sum involved and tho prosecutor succeeded also in obtaining tho admission that even Monkhouse " might havo been concerned in payments on account of his illegal activities since if one member of the firm was so occupied perhaps others were." At this stage, shortly before tho Court adjourned, Mac Donald was giving his evidence almost in a state of collapse. The proceedings yesterday had been continued until 10 p.m. Gusev, chief of tho Zlatoust plant, one of the Russians accused, who made a complete confession, said he had fought with the White Army and subsequently retained anti-Soviet views. In these views, be said, he met with sympathy from Mac Donald, who discussed with him, among other things, tho deplorable living conditions in Russia. After a time, said Gusev, Mac Donald asked him to supply information about the production of munitions and also stated that ho had, on Mac Donald's instructions, arranged breakdowns, which he described at length. He also said Mac Donald had paid him 3000 roubles for this work. Use of a Secret Code Gusev said that Thornton had paid two visits to Zlatoust after Mac Donald's departure from there. Gusev continued to maintain communication with him. The story Gusev then told of numerous letters and parcels sent under different fictitious names and containing code phrases, such as "tinned food," meaning munitions of war, was supported by replies to questions then put by the prosecutor to Madame Kutosova, who had pleaded guilty. No documents or material evidence were produced in Court this morning. Madame Kutosova, under cross-exami-nation, said she thought tho parcels contained butter and other food. Gusev, continuing his evidence, said that in the autumn of 1931 he visited Mac Donald at tho hitter's invitation | at Zuevka to discuss Gtisev's wrecking activities. Mac Donald was then questioned again and admitted that ho had invited Gusev, but denied that ho had asked him to discuss wrecking. He confirmed tho statement that Gusev had told him of various breakdowns, but MacDonaid then was understood to say that he denied any participation in or knowledge of these particular wrecking activities of GllSOv'. Thornton Withdiaws Admissions, Gusev alleged that Thornton knew what was taking place between him and Mac Donald. Thornton admitted that knowledge of that information was being obtained, but only in the interests of his firm and not information of a spying nature. The prosecutor then put to Thornton his admissions as to spying on confrontation with Gusev during his imprisonment. Thornton said he had made those admissions because he was upset at the time and they were not true. Gusev declared he was now telling all the truth. He was cross-examined bv Mac Donald's counsel, who somewhat shook his statements regarding the money he had received from I hornton. Gusev said ho received it to share with Vitvitski. Thereupon counsel made Gusev admit that Mac Donald did not know Vitvitski, and put to him the consequent improbability of Mac Donald intending the money for the latter. Thornton denied absolutely knowing anything of Vitvitski's alleged wrecking work. LONDON BROADCAST NO REFERENCE TO TRIAL MENTION OF ACCUSED ENDS (Received April 11, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON. April M A London broadcast to-day included prayers for the suffering of those passing' into tho valley of the shadow of death. There was no direct reference to the Moscow trial, and it is understood that the broadcasting services will not allude further to tho accused men.