MARTIAL LAW VERDICT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21530, 30 December 1931, Page 12

MARTIAL LAW VERDICT

HUNGARIAN YOUTH’S FATE CONVICTED AND HANGED ALL WITHIN FOUR HOURS. A thrill of horror passed through Budapest on October 19 when it was learned that an American-born youth of barely 21, Joseph On da, had been tried, sentenced to death and hanged within less than four hours on a charge of robbery with violence. On October 15 Onda and another youth of 19, Joseph Bonyi, held up the Budapest Commercial Bank and stole a large sum of money. When pursued they fired a number of ineffective shots at their pursuers. Under martial law, which is now in force throughout Hungary, the drastic provisions of the old Hapsburg monarchy rule are revived. The military court can pronounce sentence of death only for any crime with which violence' is connected; but unless the decision is unanimous the case must go to the ordinary courts. No appeal is allowed. The sentence must be submitted to the head of the State—in this case the Regent—who may give or refuse a free pardon. If refused, the prisoner must be hanged within three hours. When the trial opened in the morning morbid crowds gathered outside the court, as it was known that Kosarek, the public executioner, bad arrived with bis two assistants and begun the erection of a gallows in the courtyard. Prisoners executed in Hungary are not hanged by means of a spring trap, but are hoisted into the air. Judge Toercky, who is noted for the severity of his sentences, tried the case, with the assistance of four advisers. He ordered a strong force of police to be ready to deal drastically with any public manifestations. The trial ended at 3 p.m. Onda, a son of a Hungarian farmer, born in America in 1910, and educated in an ordinary American school, who has been in Hungary since 1920, was sentenced to death. His companion, being only 19, was not liable to the death sentence, but was given the maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. On the sentences being pronounced, the youths embraced and kissed one another. At (5.25 Onda was taken to the courtyard and hanged. When sentence was pronounced, the father of Onda collapsed unconscious. The judge asked the prisoners if i they desired a free pardon, to which they replied in the affirmative. The court then withdrew for five minutes, and returned to say that the Regent would not be recommended to grant a pardon. The defending lawyer said, “ But I have telegraphed this morning asking him to exercise clemency for this boy, who only fired shots in the air.” The court returned no answer to the interjection. The boy was taken to execution in a state of semi-collapse.