RIOT IN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1934, Page 7

RIOT IN COURT

BROWN SHIRTS ENRAGED 51 COMMUNISTS SENTENCED DEATH NARROWLY ESCAPED OUTCRY AGAINST LENIENCE MINISTER IGNORES JUDGE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Rec. 7 p.m. Berlin, Jan. 26. Fifty-one Communists, including two women, were sentenced to terms ranging from nine months’ imprisonment to ten years for the murder of the Storm Troop leader Hans Maikowski and a police sergeant in January, 1933. Had the murders been committed half an hour later the accused would have been liable to death, as the decree regarding attackers of Brown Shirts was promulgated at midnight. Storm Troopers in court demonstrated against the lenience and the judge ordered the gallery to be cleared. The protests developed into scenes unparalleled in the history of German Courts. When the sentences began with terms of seven years Brown Shirts shouted, “Shameful! Down with the judge!” The climax came when the leader, adddressing the judge, yelled, “We want justice, murderers! The verdict is shameful!”

The judge ordered the officials to clear the galleries. The Brown Shirts resisted, resulting in a free fight with the police until the objectors were ejected. The judge suspended the sentences for an hour, during which the Brown Shirts vigorously protested to the Prussian Minister of Justice. Consequently when the Court resumed the State Secretary, Dr. Freisler, appeared in court. Ignoring the judge, he addressed the Storm Troops re-assembled to the effect: “Let us hear the court’s decision, but the Minister will examine the case. Any future action will rest with his decision.” The judge then finished the sentences.