Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-12
POLISH BOYS AND
GIRLS ON TRIAL
REMARKABLE CASE IN UPPER
SILICA
Youthful Defendants Are Indicted for
Participation in an Association
Hostile to German
Institutions

Special Gable to The Herald
BERLIN, Feb. 11.-Another compli-
Gated trial on a large scale has just
concluded at Gleiwaitz, in Upper SILICA,
in which a number of Poles were in
dicted for participation in secret as
sociation, the object of which was hos
tile to various laws, institutions of a
German character. The number of de-
PENDANTS was %, of whom IL were
young men and 10 young girls, all OF
them between the ages Of "a and IL,
and all belonging to the class of arti-
sans and laborers. Considerable atten-
ton is being directed to the proceed
ings, as they illustrate in very force
able way the fatuitousness and futility
of the existing anti-Polish policy pur-
sued by the Prussian government. The
principal defendant was Ignaz Scht-
kora, who appeared in the dock in the
uniform of a PruSsian soldier, as he is
now serving with the colors. This lad
who is 20 years old, was accused of in
citing Poles against the Germans by
lending Polish books of an inflamma-
TORY CndTdCIeT 10 OlHGI youlHo' liz heiN
a library of 6O4 books and pamphlets
at his home, all Of which he had pur-
chased out of his savings, and among
which the dangerous books has been
found.
Mention was made at the trial of
very dangerous person, certain Frau
Soltys, now living abroad, who was
in the habit of inviting the defendants
and others to her house. At these
meetings Polish books and neWspa-
pers were read, Polish songs were
sung and coffee also was drunk. Wit
nesses testified that Frau Soltys spoke
Of the Germans as being "the greatest
pigs on earth, not fit to associate with
Poles" The principal witness for the
prosecution was a young girl of II,
named Zelasny, who had been present
at most of the meetings. She was,
however, unable very clearly to state
what the talk was all about. She
remembered once being told to bring
her knitting with her. She did not
think there was any harm in the
meetings.
Another witness said several of the
accused came to the meetings because
they were in love. Asked what songs
were sung, all this witness could re-
member was a song called Good
Night" Witness did hear some talk
about an insurrection, but when asked
for the Polish word for "insurrection"
was unable to give it.
Among Schikora's confiscated books
and correspondence several papers were
found in which German Torturers"
were alluded to, and the duty was I'M
posed on all good Poles to combat the
Germans, even should it come to
bloodshed. A letter was found advo-
eating the study of Polish literature
as a safeguard against Germanization
and for promoting the principles OF
Polish naturalization. In conclusion,
it transpired at the trial that Polish
children, ignorant of their mother
language, had been taught Polish by
members of this association, and had
been warned not to reveal this fact
to their regular school teachers. The
court sentenced Schikora to one
months Imprisonment, and fourteen of
the other defendants had sentences
passed on them varying from one day
to two weeks Imprisonment. The re-
naming were acquitted.