MURDER OF KIROV

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 11

MURDER OF KIROV

Soviet Military Court Begins Trial

NIKOLAEV’S OUTBURST “I Freed Russia From a Scoundrel” TROTSKY’S CORRESPONDENCE By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received December 2S, 7.15 p.m.) I,ondon, December 28. The “Daily Express’s” Warsaw correspondent says the trial of Nikolaev and 13 others accused of the nuirder of Kirov has been begun by a military court in the Smolny Institute, Leningrad, the scene of the crime. The authorities at the last minute decided that it would he unwise to hold the trial in Moscow, as was arranged. Two thousand soldiers surrounded the . institute. The prisoners were chained by the wrists and ankles. Asked how he pleaded. Nikolaev* said: “I have freed Russia from a lowdown scoundrel. Others will finish my work.” He then burst out laughing. The day was treated as a holiday, and processions mareljgd through the streets demanding the death _of all the Zinoviev group. Journalists are now allowed to be present at the trial. Kaganovitch. one of Stalin’s chief lieutenants, came from Moscow to watch the trial. The station was cleared while he detrained. A Moscow radio message, announced that a large mass of correspondence from Trotsky has been found, giving evidence of the existence of organisations in Bulgaria. Lithuania., and Germany, plotting to upset the Soviet Government. 4 .... ==