VERDICT EXPECTED SHORTLY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 9

VERDICT EXPECTED SHORTLY

TREASON TRIAL NEARS END DOCTORS DESCRIBE SLOW MURDER United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MOSCOW, March 9. Two world famous doctors spent the morning at the treason trial eagerly describing their slow murder of Yagoda’s political opponents. Dr. Pletnoff told how he applied unsuitable treatment to Kiubysheff aft£r Yagoda had insisted that it was desirable to kill him. Dr. Kazakoff confirmed Dr. Levin’s description of the medical murders and said that Yagoda had told him that Men jinsky must die. Five medical experts are considering the doctors’ evidence. Maximoff, the last of the defendants to give evidence, declared that he had belonged to the Rightists since 1928. Representatives of foreign States were again mentioned in an official communique this evening regarding the secret session of the trial.

“Rakovsky, Gringko, Rosengolt' and Krestinsky have testified to their treasonable spying connections with several officials and representatives of several foreign States. Their testimony has identified those representatives as well as States which they represented/’ states the communique. The communique adds that Yagoda admitted that he organised the killing of Pieshkov. A committee of five medical men, who examined the evidence regarding the deaths of Maxim Gorky and others, submitted a report finding that the accused doctors criminally and maliciously maltreated patients so as tn procure their deaths. The court to-morrow will hear M. Vishinsky’s speech in which he will demand the penalty considered suitable for each prisoner. The defending counsel will then speak on behalf of the three doctors, and the 18 accused who refused counsel, may speak in self-defence. After this, all the prisoners will be invited to make a “last plea” on Friday. M. Vishinsky will make a final speech and the verdicts and sentences are expected to be announced on Saturday. BRITAIN NOT GUILTY OF ANY BREACH STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS Unl'.sd Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 9. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said he was aware that the prejudicial manner of the Soviet treason trial is likely to affect AngloSoviet relations. He doubted however, whether the untrue allegations would be believed outside Russia. “The British Government was not guilty of any breach of its agreement with the Soviet,” he said, “and has not employed the intelligence service of any British subjects named at the trial, nor engaged in any subversive activities whatever.” Miss Ellen Wilkinson (Labour): In view of the fact that many distinguished British citizens such as Lady Muriel Paget have been lecturing on their experiences as members of the British Intelligence Service, does that quite square with the Prime Minister’s statement? Mr Chamberlain: Lady Muriel Paget has no experience of lntelligence. Her work was unselfish and humanitarian. Miss Wilkinson: Those of us knowing something about her work have reason to doubt that statement. “SIMPLY LAUGHABLE” CHARGES AGAINST LADY PAGET United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 10. Lady Paget’s secretary told the “Daily Chronicle” that Ellen Wilkinson’s statement was simply laughable and absolutely untrue. Lady Muriel never worked with the British Intelligence.