GERMAN FIRE TRIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 11

GERMAN FIRE TRIAL

VANDERLUBBE QUESTIONED DENIES HE WAS COMMUNIST. LEIPZIG, September 21. All the accused in the Reichstag building fire trial were charged with high treason, for which the penalty is death. Vanderlubbe’s handcuffs were removed as he rose to hear the charge. Asked whether he was a Communist, Venderlubbe replied: “No.” refused to admit any political convictions. The report of the Dutch police described him as a continual agitator, first as an Anarchist, then a Communist. He had been frequently arrested. He abandoned agitation in 1931, presumably because he left the Communist party. Vanderblubbe sat dejected. He admitted that he left the Communists in 1929 because he was not made a leader of the episonage organisation. A former Socialist, Brelkewitz, questioned regarding a telegram sent to a member of the Reichstag in March alleging that Vanderlubbe stayed with Brelkewitz and entertained local Nazis, admitted that it might be a case of mistaken identity. Vanderlubbe laughed. Questioned why, he eaid he was laughing at the trial. The judge suggested that the cause of his mirth was the statement that he was associated with the Nazis. Vanderlubbe insisted that he was only laughing at the trial, which was adjourned. THE PRINCIPAL ACCUSED. DOUBT ABOUT SANITY. LEIPZIG, September 22. Vanderlubbe was dressed in prison garb, consisting of blue trousers and a frayed and stained jacket. His pale face sometimes took on a greenish tinge, and there were rings beneath his eyes. He seemed oblivious of his surroundings, and gave stupid replies to the questions in a voice that was barely audible. Torgler, biting his thin lips, presented a picture of terror and distress. His wife watched him anxiously. The three Bulgarian prisoners seemed remote from the proceedings as none of them under-stands-German.

At the end of the day mystery remained whether Vanderlubbe was really half-witted or whether his stupidity was assumed.