A REMARKABLE SCENE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18065, 17 April 1933, Page 5

A REMARKABLE SCENE

MONKHOUSE’S PROTEST PROCEEDINGS DISORGANISED PRISONERS MORE CONFIDENT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received April .17, 11 a.m.) MOSCOW, April 16. There was a remarkable scene at the resumption of the trial of the British engineers yesterday, when Alan Monkhouse jumped u’p and said he wanted to make a declaration. The judge stopped him while lie .\jiis protesting against being C7oss.‘xauiined for 18 hours. Monkhouse shouted: “The trial is i frame-up. ” He declared that after hearing Sakhorotehkin, the trial was based on the evidence of terrdrised Russians. The whole proceedings were distrganised .and all messages were stopped until the official stenographers supplied the exact words. Pressmen were unable to restrain their excitement and hectically dash'd to and fro. Monkhouse *s outburst perceptibly brightened the embassy’s personnel. The court resumed after 20 minutes. Krsasketnimikov, head engineer for for the Moscow electric station, accused of belonging to the so-called Moscow sabotage group, gavo evidence that he received only 500 roubles from Vickers, but had been promised more. “lIE TS LYING”

Zorin, an engineer in the Moscow 7 power department, declared: “Thornton led me into sabotage, giving me 1000 roubles, and asking me to conceal defects and supply secret information.”

M. Vishinsky, referring to, Thornton’s repeated denials and accusations, sneeringly remarked: “I suppose you deny that, Thornton?” Thornton shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head.

John Cushny, a burly South African, who had served in the Air Force during wartime, gave evidence that ho workpd in the Don Basin, and then in Baku, where he had 200 friends. He gave some of tho needy fivers, and lent others money, which had been returned. He denied any connection with the breakdown of turbines at Baku, which was due to tjie Russians’ carelessness in allowing winter to enter. - i

Oleinik, who had been employed with the Vickers’ firm in Russia and England for 20 years, declared that he was associated with Nordwall in nets of sabotage in the Don Basin, when he spied in military matters. He believed that Thornton .and Nordwall were working for another organisation. Thornton interjected: “He is lying! ” TIRED AND BROWBEATEN Thornton entered the witaess-bo'-and spoke with increasing self-con-fidence. He said he joined the Vickers company after demobilisation and vent to London annually to give information regarding his work. . Ho used many methods to obtain business information. He never spied, but he ,admitted the breakdowns at Zouevka, Baku, Cheliabinsk and Moscow, none of -which were serious.

M. Vishiiisky, interrupting, began to read the depositions. Thornton sharply interjected: “I retract all that. They questioned me on March 12 until I was exhausted. I was also questioned on the four following days. I signed under pressure. It was suggested, that if I confessed it would be all right, and if I didn’t I should be useless either to tho Soviet or to England. I was so tired and brow-beaten that I signed a deposition dictated in Russian. I was not tortured-”

M. Vishinsky: Which Englishman in Moscow taught you to tell that lie? Thornton: No one.

M. Vishinsky: I know 7 who. Thornton added: “In this court I deny sabotage. I have always done my work well.” Mdlle. lvutosova, recalled, maincured, powdered and rouged, stood in •he witness box and answered in monosyllables leading questions, confirming depositions, admitting bribes which were not entered in Vickers’ books, but in Thornton’s diary, which was sent to England in December. SHORT SUNDAY SITTING

Shukhoruehkin, Krsashetnimikov, and Zorin, standing in unison, gave corroborative evidence. Thornton then sprang to his feet, saying: “I deny that.” Mdlle. Kutusova added that she first noticed Thornton's and MacDonald’s activities in 1930, but she was poweress as she had given her word for silence. “I am ignorant of the details of sabotage,” she said. “I only heard conversations.” Ryshinsky denied Thornton’s and Monkliouse’s allegations tha,t undue ’pressure had been used when they were being questioned in LUbianks prison. Tho city was cloaked in white after an overnight snowstorm, when the trial resumed.

Monkhoive’a counsel. M. Kod r 'mnv, requested the court’s nfng as r >e admissibility of 10 tech: al quer .ns submitted by Monkhou.-e. M. U rich disallowed two referring to MetroVickers’ machinery, declaring emphatically that the company was not on trial, but only individuals. Tho session lasted for an hour and adjourned at 5 p.m. It, is ovpeeked that the trial will finish on Tuesday.