The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-05
SPARTACAN CHIEF
FORCED MURDERS
Defendants at Trial Plead
They Had to Obey Orders
to Shoot.
B0ASTED OF KILLINGS
Countess Westharp and Others
Refused to Turn Backs
to Executioners.
BOASTED OF KILLINGS
Rr fhs Associated prass.

MUNICH, Sept. 8 tdelayed). The trial
OF Bavarian Communist leaders on
the charge of : having murdered
hostages taken during the upris-
ings of February last continued
here to-day. The first important
witness was an artist, Bernhard Hessel-
mann, who testified that Fritz Seidl, the
Bolshevik commandment of the Luitpold
High School, was responsible for the
murder of the hostages. Seidl. Hessel-
mann declared. carried a revolver con-
stantly and threatened to shoot down
any one defying him.
The evidence adduced against Seidl.
as the first of the accused to be placed
on trial. tended to show that he treated
the hostages with an iron hand. He is
declared to have accepted thousands of
dollars to grant immunity to certain
of the hostages.
Seidl, testifying in HE own behalf,
said that the murders were forced upon
him by Willie Hausmann. who was in
command of the firing squad, which
executed the hostages. Hausmann threat
ened to kill him IL he refused. Seidi
declared. AS the trial proceeded. seldl
appeared to lose nerve and said he re-
GREETED the whole affair.
The Communist Stakeholder, the Sec
ond of the accused to be tried. de-
clared he was against Seidl's plan to
shoot the hostages.
Many Wounds In Bodies.
Prof. Merkel. who examined the bodies
of the persons shot by the Communists,
testified that each had from four to
seven wounds the majority having been
shot with their faces to the wall.
The first OF the accused Communists
to admit guilt was Herr Riedel, who
declared, 81 shot along with the others"
Another of the defendants. Gsell. tes-
titled that he was member of the
shooting squad and boasted that he had
shot out a heart"
Countess Won Westarp, the Prince OF
Thurn and Taxis and Studnt refused to
turn their backs on the firing squad and
were shot facing the guns. The witness
declared that the victims when not
killed instantly were shot a second or
third time. The firing squad was paid
Off only after the last hostages were ex-
ecuted.
. Many stiII mt Liberty.
Hesselmann. the artist, when con-
fronted with a watch and chain belong
ing to one of the murdered hostages said
ne mao DOugnt tnenl AT n paWnDrOker 3.
He declared that Seidl and Stakeholder
were the only guilty ones on trial. the
| others guilty of the crimes being still at
liberty and carrying on spartacan
propaganda.
Gsell testified that Hausmann called
off the names of those marked for execu-
ton and then ordered that the hostages
be stood up in groups OF three. They
were given an opportunity to send mes
sages to relatives and friends.
Countess Won Westarp, according to
this witness, wrote long letter on the
back of soldier. taking about twenty
minutes. One of the soldiers became i'm
patient and forced her to move along.
PLENTY of wine and cigarettes were
| served to the Red Guard in the gymna-
stun that night" he said.
The trial Of the leaders OF the Com
| munist uprising in Bavaria for murder
ing hostages during the Soviet regime
opened at Munich Monday. when Fitz
| Seidl and fifteen of his alleged accom-
plices were arraigned before the Peoples
| Court. a new Bavarian tribunal which Is
sitting in the Palace of Justice. Seidl
and two OF the other Communists are
| said to have been the ringleaders in
! the murders. The indictment charges
| that the hcAsages were housed in a
cellar and fed on bread and water during
| their imprisonment