RUSSIAN PLOTTERS SENTENCED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20505, 25 August 1936, Page 7

RUSSIAN PLOTTERS SENTENCED

DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD OUTSPOKEN ENGLISH CRITICISM “MOST DEGRADING SCENE EVER WITNESSED” United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 21, 6.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 24. Before Judges of the Supreme Court, presided over by M. Ulrich, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Smirnov and Holamann and several others, who pleaded guilty to an indictment which stated that thej’ had inspirted a German, Fritz David, in an attempt to shoot M. Josef Stalin at a congress in July, 1935, were sentenced to death. The plot failed because David was unable to take aim. Similar plots were aimed against M. Voroshilov and other Communist leaders. The Court convicted Leon Trotsky, also his son, of participation in the plot. If Trotsky enters the Soviet he is liable to immediate arrest and trial. Confessions of Plotters. In his final address, M. Kamenev said: “I don’t ask for mercy, but I wish to leave a last message to my wife and three children: ‘Be good; follow the party.’ I conducted a personal fight against M. Stalin, who is the world’s greatest leader of the workers. Yet the Communist Party tolerated me for 12 years. I was thrice expelled, but reinstated, and given responsible posts. There is no such example of toleration in the history of revolution in any country. I don't fear death. Having failed to serve the revolution living, I am ready to serve it by dying.’ Zinoviev made a full confession of guilt, and concluded by saying that M. Vishinsky’s demand of the death sentence was fully justified and legal. He had no doubt it will be fully supported by the Workers’ Soviet Union and workers abroad. The death sentence will be just. “I don’t fear death, but prefer it to looking through prison bars at Soviet progress.” Death Sentence Passed. Everyone in court stood while the judge, M. Ulrich, was speaking. He rapidly recounted the activities of the accused and concluded: “On the basis of the above the military tribunal )f the Supreme Court of the U.S.S.R. sentences Zinoviev, Kamenev, Evdomikov, Smirnov, Bakaev, Mirachkovaki, Tervaganian, Dreitzer, Holzmann, Reingold, Pickel, Olberg and M. and N. Lurie to the highest measure of social defence—shooting.” Zinoviev appeared ill as he entered the court to hear the sentence. Mirachkovski when sentenced shouted: “Long live the Leninist Party.” Permission to Appeal. The accused were granted 72 hours in order to appeal. This caused surprise owing to the law of 1935, declaring that there was no appeal in cases of treason. The sentences were announced after eight hours’ deliberation. The spectators r.pplauded tumultously. The only hope of the condemned men lies in appealing to the Central Executive Committee. It is not expected that they will appeal. Some of the sentences may be commuted. “MOST DEGRADING SPECTACLE” SCATHING ENGLISH CRITICISM (Received August 24, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 24. The Moscow correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” describes the terrorists’ confessions as one of the most, degrading spectacles ever witnessed. All but two, Smirnov and Holzmann, virtually begged to be shot. Some, including Kamenev, actually thanked Stalin for his magnanimity in not shooting them earlier. The trial, from the judicial standpoint, ends in the same mist as it began. Soviet Attack and British Reply The Soviet journal “Pravada” the rest of the press fiercely attacks Sir Walter Citrine for asking, on behalf of the International Federation of Trade Unions, that Zinoviev and the others be permitted counsel and allowed to appeal. “Pravda” describes Sir Walter Citrine as a protector of these agents of German Fascism, and says: “These experienced hypocrites considered they could defend themselves better than any lawyer.” Sir Walter Citrine in reply says: “Our point was that the prisoners should have counsel independent of the Soviet Government, and that they ought to be tried w’ith the ordinary cannons of justice and humanity. We shall protest whether the people concerned are Communists, Socialists or Fascists.”