DONETZ TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 20522, 26 June 1928, Page 7

DONETZ TRIAL

THE OPENING STAGE NO PLOT DISCLOSED BY EVIDENCE REMAINDER IN CAMERA (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 8.15 p.m.) London, June 24. The Times’ Riga correspondent? reports that the first stage of the Donetz trial has concluded. It consisted of evidence and cross-examination of the accused. The remainder of the trial will be held in camera.

The proceedings thus far have produced no convincing evidence of a plot, merely mismanagement. Nevertheless, opinion in Moscow is that after such a stir somebody must die. The German mechanic, Maier, like many Russians denied the statement signed by him before the trial alleging that questioners reduced him to exhaustion, subjecting him sometimes to uninterrupted interrogation for six or seven hours, after which he did not know what he signed.— Times Cables.

A message received on May 19 stated:— The British United Press Moscow correspondent says beneath a blaze of cinema arc lights and loud speakers gaping from walls the trial has begun in the Trade Union hall of three Germans and 50 Russians charged with economic counter-revo-lution at Donetz. The penalty if guilty is death. The Soviet Press foreshadows harsh treatment. The Isvestia declares that the Donetz affair was a prelude to an open armed attack on the Soviet. Berlin newspapers prepare readers for a farcical trial the result of which will certainly be inimical to Germano-Russian relations.