MURDER TRIAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1922, Page 5

MURDER TRIAL

A PATHETIC EPISODE. A MOTHER’S APPEAL. MAY LIGHTEN PENALTY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 15, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, Oct. 13. A pathetic episode occurred during the closing scenes at the trial of Dr. Rathcnau’s murderers. The defending counsel read a letter which the aged mother of Dr. Rahtenau wrote to tuie mother of Ernest Techow, against whom the Public Prosecutor is demanding the death sentence. Frau Rathenau wrote: “In indescribable pain I stretch out my hand to you, most miserable of all women. Tell your son I pardon him in the name and spirit of his victim. May God pardon him, if he makes a full confession to earthly judges and awaits the Divine Judge with contrition. If your boy had known my son—the noblest creature who walked earth—sooner than turn a deadly weapon against him he would have • turned it against himself. May these words brings peace to your soul.” Tears were in the eyes of the judges as the letter was read. Afterwards Techow, when asked if he had anything to say, replied: “I told the court the truth. I greatly reproach myself for my action and await the court’s just punishment.” It is expected the appeal to- the court’s feeling will be successful. Three out of the nine judges have already declared they will not vote for the death penalty. Seven out of nine must agree to a capital sentence under German law. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ACCUSED CROSS-EXAMINED A DRAMATIC SCENE. London, Oct. 13. The Daily Chronicle's Berlin correspondent states that an analysis shows that the chocolates sent to the Leipzig prisoners contained arsenic. It is assumed the prisoner was a member of a secret society -which organised Dr. Rathenau’s murder. Ernst Techow broke down under a dramatic cross-examination by the President of the Court, who warned Ernst that he was liable to the death penalty, and asked him, for the sake of his mother, to tell the truth. Ernst thereupon confessed that he took part in the murder because he gave his word of honor to Kern. If he had refused, Kern would have shot him. Ernst burst into tears. He repeated that Kern had said: “If you refuse to help, I will shoot you down.” Ernst continued, and said: “Everybody belonging to the society has to obey orders. — Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. THE SENTENCES. TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT. Received Oct. 15, 11.30 p.m. Berlin, Oct. 14. The Rathenau murder trial has ended. Techow senior was sentenced to fifteen years; Guenther to eight years; Sneidrig and von Salmon to five years , Techow junior to four years; Tillesden to three years; and Schuett and Diestel to two months. The others were acquitted.