SOVIET TRIAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 221, 15 April 1933, Page 5

SOVIET TRIAL

k PROCEEDINGS AT :.\. MOSCOW Russian Prisoner Examined MacDONALE) DENIES PREVI- -. I OUS STATEMENT British Official Wireless. *Y Rugby,, April 13.—Proceedings a at the Moscow Court this morn- * ing opened with the examination of Sokolov, another of the Russian accused, who produced a story and confession similar to Guscv's. MacDonald, however, when questioned denied giving Thornton an instruction .-for wrecking and espionage, and on the prosecution's pointing out that he had admitted doing so in his depositions made in prison he replied it was convenient to make that statement at the time. He then retracted his plea of guilty which he made at the opening of the trial. Thornton was then called and said he made false admissions in prison because he "lost his courage." After, the president of the court endeavoured unsuccessfully to persuade MacDonald to revert to his plea of guilty toe court adjourned. This adjournment, during which MacDonald left the court in the hands of his O.G.P.U. guards, was followed by a change in his behaviour v.hich was "remarked by all observers."' On the resumption he was again questioned as to whether he admitted espionage. and replied in low tones in the affirmative. He also stated that the collective information involved was suggested -by Thornton and that 'he presumed other Metropolitan Vickers enasked Mr. Ramsay MacDonald to extend ted giving" instructions for machine wrecking. Thornton Examined The Prosecutor then examined Thornton in reference to MacDonald's obtaining information regarding the production of munitions. This suggestion was an "absolute he," Thornton said, and he repudiated any part of his previous depositions admitting "any kind of espionage activities." Alternately the examination of MacDonald and Thornton continued. MacDonald was accepting almost all the suggestions put him by the Prosecutor, which, however, were strenuously denied by Thornton in his turn. At one stage a specific list of planned breakdowns was read to MacDonald from depositions made by him in prison and confirmed by him into the mouth of the microphone. Thornton again refused to confirm the accusations he had read and signed before leaving the O.G.P.U. prison and explained that the confessions he made were given in different surroundings which frightened and influenced him into making statements which he wished to change. The President of the Court observed: "You are sure you are not getting this from somebody else?" Monetary Transactions

Thornton and MacDonald were further questioned regarding monetary transaction." and the former was able to produce idocumentary evidence that a large nun for which he bought roubles privately at a rate representing their greatly "depreciated value and lent to MacDonald had been' repaid by the latter. MacDonald, however, said this was not the only sum involved, and admitted that even Monkhouse might have been concerned in payments on account of his illegal activities, since if one member of the firm was co occupied perhaps others were.

At this stage, shortly before the court adjourned, MacDonald was giving his evidence almost in a state of collapse and had already answered in reply to the Prosecutor that he made a certain petition jointly to the O.G.P.U. and the Prosecutor when in prison. He said he did not wish to state its contents to the court at the present moment. The court then adjourned until the evening. Moulding Evidence Proceedings yesterday continued until ten o'clock last night. The morning session was devoted to moulding evidence in support of the charges of espionage. wrecking and bribery at Zlatovist and was occupied by the examination of Gusev, who made a complete confession. He gave the history of his life, explaining he fought with the White Army and subsequently retained antiSoviet views. In these views, he said, he met with the sympathy of MacDonald. who discussed with him among other things deplorable living conditions in Russia. After a time, he said, MacDonald asked him to supply information about the production of munitions and stated he had on MacDonald's instructions arranged breakdowns, which he described at length, and that MacDonald paid him three thousand roubles for this work.

On His Own Account

MacDonald was questioned on both points during Gusev's evidence and maintained, in spite of a lead from the Prosecutor, that the industrial and military information he asked Gusev for was required for his own personal account. .He admitted he gave Gusev money received from his chief, Thornton. He denied another allegation by Gusev that he had any. part in making a plan for wrecking Soviet munitions production.

Gusev then brought Thornton into the story. Thornton, he said, paid two visits to Zlatovist. After MacDonald's departure from Zlatovist Gusev continued to maintain communication with him.

The story which Gusev then told of numerous letters and parcels sent under different fictitious names and containing code phrases such as "tinned food" for munitions of war was supported by replies to questions then put by the Prosecutor to Madame Kutosova, secretary of Metropolitan Vickcrs at Moscow, who pleaded guilty.

No document or material evidence was produced in court in this morning's session, and fifadame Kutosova under crossexamination later said she thought the parcels contained butter and other food. Gusev. continuing, said in the autumn of 1931 he visited MacDonald at the hitter's invitation at Zuevka to discuss Gusev's wrecking activities. MacDonald was then questioned and admitted he invited Gusev but denied he invited him to discuss wrecking. He confirmed that Gusev told him of various breakdowns.

Gusev alleged that Thornton knew what was taking place between him and MacDonald. Thornton admitted knowledge that information was being obtained but only in the interests of the firm and not information of a spying nature, ~.

Not True The prosecution put to Thornton his admissions as to spying made on his confrontation with Gusev during his imprisonment. Thornton said he made these admissions because ho was upset at the time and they were not true. Gusev declared he was now telling all the truth and added: "If my life is spared I shall work honestly for the Soviet Union in future." Gusev was cross-examined by MacDonald's counsel, who somewhat shook his statements regarding money he received from Thornton. Gusev said he received it to share with Vitvitski, whereupon counsel made him admit MacDonald did not know Vitvitski and put to him the consequent improbability of MacDonald intending the money for the latter. Before the court adjourned Thornton denied absolutely knowing anything of Vitvitski's alleged wrecking work.