HELD WITHOUT TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 198, 24 August 1935, Page 9

HELD WITHOUT TRIAL

FATE OF COMMUNISTS DELEGATES VISIT HIS PRISON. HIS DEFENCE BEING PREPARED. HAS BEEN TWO YEARS IN GAOL. . By Telegraph - Press Association—Copyright] Received Aug. 23, 8.37 p.m. BERLIN, Aug. 22. Anxious to see and talk with the ‘ommunist, Thaelmann, whose imprisonment for two years without trial lias stirred Europe, a group of British, American, French, Belgian and Spanish delegates to the Penal Congress visited Moabit Prison. All the delegates wore allowed was o watch Thaelmanu from windows, wo storeys above, as he came into -ight iu an exercising yard of the orison. Officials asked the visitors not (» allow Thaelmann to see them as he had received too many such visits and objected. Officials refused the delegates’ request to see Thaelmann in his ell. They said he wished to be left ’lone. The visitors were shown his •ell, where a newspaper and a halfmoked pipe were lying on the bed. This was pointed out as evidence of good treatment. The visitors were told that the delay in the trial was due to the defence asking for time to obtain and study documents. Officials said that a lawyer living in Hamburg had proffered his name to defend Thaelmann. An official appointed by the State will assist the defence. Delegates visited this official, who said that tho defence received the case only two months ago. He refused information concerning the charges. He said that the trial would probably be in October and would last a fortnight.