VAN DER LUBBE'S FATE STILL HANGS IN BALANCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 726, 29 December 1933, Page 5

VAN DER LUBBE'S FATE STILL HANGS IN BALANCE

'Press Assn.-

IIANGING UNLIKELY

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

(Rec. Dec. 28) Berlin, Dec. 27. The Dutch Government has appealecl for the commutation of Van der Lubbe's death sentence. The result is problematical beeause the German law requires that a prisoner make such a request, but Van der Lubbe remains silent. Lonsd'on, Dec. 27. The Daily Express' correspondent . at Leipzig says: Van der Lubbe aslced of a prison warder, "how much longer is this going to last?" The warder replied, telling Van der Lubbe of the intervention of the Dutch Government which would postpone the de.cision regarding his sentence for at least a fortnight. Van der Lubbe dejectedly pushed away a slice of Christmas cake, which the warder brought to the condemned cell. It now appears unlikely that Van der Lubbe will he lianged, but Herr Torgler will go to a concentration camp. . _ Herr Torgler's wife has given Dr Sack, her husband's lawyer, £1000 which was all the money she had. When the wife applied for state relief she was eurtly told : _ "Apply to the London committee of inquiry, before which your son gave evidence. The Bulgarians prohably will be expelled at the end of the week.