GHOULISH ARGUMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 20 March 1946, Page 5

GHOULISH ARGUMENT

DOCTOIi CHARGED WITH MANY iVrCRiiERS Received Tuesday, 8.20 p.m. PARIS, Maroa 18. The trial of Dr. Marcel Petrot, who is enarged with at least 27 mrRFders, eominues in the Paiais de justice. vj-uuxuish argument concerning tne numuer ui nitud^rs wifch wnieii ±. et.ot, .s cnargea o„evaTod wnen tne jrii^xi'c rToseeutor mentiun-d 33 uodies. r'etiot lumse.i ins.scea aiar tnu numuer suoula De u3, bnt tne prosecutor b^usned aside the arsument, saying, "tinrty three is ali we care ariout. " Petiot: xn any cass I am charged only with z7, and while on the subject of Dodieo, tnose iounu in my nuuse rtheu 4. rbtiunM irom 12 montns in Frusnes prisOxi (where he was detained oy G^stapo) were still pinkish, proving death to have been ctuite recent.

The prosacutor reinarked that the patnoiog.sts- evidence to he suomitted would contradict this claim. Petiot ^.roduced sheaves of documents and letters whicn he forged, seeking to1 prove that he was a leading memoer of tne Resistance Movement and comvnanclqr of the "Plytox" group, which apparently did not exist outside his own demented mind. He is striving to prove that his victims were either Germans or Vichyites. . j ltoars of laughter greeted Petiot i when he deciared: "I don't want to ■ pass for a criminal." He indignantly denied that he had anytiiing to do with the disappearance of 77,000 irancs to which the Judge referred wliile questioning him on his eariier record. i ACOOSBD LOSES.TEMPERWhen accused of the murders, Petiot compietely lost his temper and bellov/ed at the Judge: "Yes, it is true I killed them, hut I killed them to help the Resiscance ?lovement. You will acquit me for these kiliings and then I will give you the names of the other victims, for whose deaths you will also | acquit me."

Por three hoiirs the Judge questioned j : Petiot regarding alleged Maquis activi- 1 ties. The Judge said, "If you are a| membei of tne Maquis, then gfve us the j names of the men with whom you ; j f Gught. ' ' The Public Prosecutor joined the : Judge in shouting: "Give us the names. : Give us the names." For a time Petiot ignored the de- ; mands. Then, crouching in the d R'k. j his eyes biazing and his face contort- j ing, he shouted, "No! No! I won't give' you the names, I won't betray the men j with whom I fought." Detailing Maquis activities, which! suppossdiy concerned the wiplng out oi members of the Gestapo, Petiot deciared that he was trained by a member of the Resistance Movement from Britain. The Judge: You say you invented a secret weapon with which you killed Germans at 100 feet. What is this famous weapon? Tell us abaut it. Petiot; I wiU only disclose the details of the weapqu when I am satisfied that to do co would be to the interests oi Prance. When the 'Judge ordered the session suspended, Petiot leaned towards him and muttered defiantly: "I am not tired yet,'-' and carefully replaced in his pocket a packet of biscuits which he had been munching, before allowing the gnards to handcuff him and lead him from tb,e couvti'Qom.