MOSCOW TRIALS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1930, Page 5

MOSCOW TRIALS

PRISONERS RESIGNED. PATHETIC' STATEMENTS. DEATH PENALTY EXPECTED. [United Press Association.—By Electrio Telegraph .—Copy right, I MOSCOW, Dec. G. Millions of' Russians expect the death penalty for the eight professors and engineer accused in the masts trial when, the sentence'is promulgated on the evening of Sunday 7th inst.

The prisoners; who htul with difficulty assumed bravado, have now altered their demeanour, their bravado having given place to fear, with their spirits broken under the terrific strain of the trial;. Thew have thrown themselves at the mercy of the. Court in a desperate appeal for their liven. Dr Fedotdy, the oldest prisoner,., is reported to have said tremulously; “I am guilty. I do not deserve mercy, hut I do not want to die a traitor’s death.”

Professor Rnmzin, who allegedly is the ringleader, pitifully declared: — “We , are not such demons as the Prosecutor hw painted us, but T bow my head in phame and. humiliation. Sitnin, 'with .. tear filled eyes, advanced his sufferings ..as a plea for mercy. He . and Kupr.ianoff said they hope that .they- would be allowed to expiate their crime by honest work. A talking picture was being taken of the trial until the Court ordered the machine to be stopped, because it's noioe interrupted the speakers’ utterances. . LONDON, Dec. G. At the Moscow trial, there followed pathetic scenes when the accused acknowledged their guilt, and appealed for mercy. Ramain, struggling for self control, said: “I understand this is my hist word. I cannot.lie a few hours before my death. I. have confessed fully, because II believe it is my only means of atonement for my past sins. Me defendants fire not here to fight, or to defend ourselves, but to capitulate. Sometimes I feel that it is better to die. Yet there are times when I long to participate in the miracles that Communism is destined to accomplish.”