MOSCOW TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22583, 23 November 1936, Page 9

MOSCOW TRIAL

SABOTAGE CHARGES ADMISSIONS BY ACCUSED SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 22, 5.5 p.m.) MOSCOW, Nov. '2l At the trial of a mining engineer, Stickling, he pleaded guilty to a charge of sabotage when explosions caused the deaths of ten workers Eight of Trotsky's followers, who were alleged to have been associ ated with him, are being tided at the same time. Another of the accused, Leonenko, gave evidence that he was promised a motor-car, a flat, a gramophone and a camera when he began wrecking work. He added: "I only received the camera." A third accused, Noskoff, said the objective of Stickling and the others was the restoration of capitalism and the establishment of a Fascist regime. A fourth accused, Kovalenko, admitted having used his position as chief engineer in a mine for the purpose of wrecking in accordance with Stickling's instructions. A fifth accused, Lyaschenko, said he had sabotaged a ventilation pit and organised a gas explosion. Allegations that miners were gassed like rate as the result of sabotage were made. Some of the accused admitted that they had neglected to ventilate mines and also sought to cause the collapse of underground galleries. A witness for tde prosecution, Drobnis, said the accused had planned to assassinate Molotoff, President of the Commissars' Council. They arranged with a terrorist chauffeur to drive him and cause an accident. This duly OCj curred but the car was travelling slowly and Molotoff was not injured.