TORGLER DINIES GUILT

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1933, Page 7

TORGLER DINIES GUILT

REICHSTAG FIRE “TRIAL”

DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE

SAYS WAS KEPT IN CHAINS

DENIAL BY GOVERNMENT

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.

Rec. 5.5 p.m. Berlin, Sept. 25. When the trial of the men accused of firing the Reichstag was resumed at Leipzig to-day Van der Lubbe, despite having broken his hunger-strike, was still deathly pale and seemed wholly disinterested in.the proceedings. Taneff, the accused shoemaker, admitted that he had been twice sentenced in his absence to 121- years’ imprisonment for Communist activities in Bulgaria, but he was granted an amnesty. Torgler, another of the accused, receiving permission to make a speech in answer to the indictment, announced in ringing tone* “I am completely innocent. I had nothing to do with the fire directly or indirectly. I surrendered the day after the fire to defend myself against this monstrous charge. I fought in prison for .seven months to prove my innocence. For five months I was kept by day and night in chains. I did not endure this torture because I was strong bodily but because of the consciousness of my innocence and my determination to vindicate my party.” Van der Lubbe, re-examined, listlessly answered questions regarding his movements a week before the fire. Asked whether he told welfare officers that it would be necessary to fire public buildings to provoke the Storm Troops and inflame the public, he replied: “Possibly.” It is understood that Torgler’s hands were fastened to his waist, allegedly because it was feared that he might.commit suicide. , . ’

German newspapers have been instructed not to publish the text of Torgler’s declaration of innocence but merely to state that he proclaimed his innocence without reference to the denial ef the Communist Party’s complicity.'They are similarly to omit reference to the statement that he was kept five months in chains, which has always been officially denied. The ’ Rhineland authorities warn German travellers that they are liable to imprisonment if they cross the frontier in possession of British newspapers and magazines attacking Germany.