New Britain herald., 1922-08-09
IA ARE ORDERED ID
 PAY DEATH PENALTY
Russians May Be Pardoned if
 Plotting Ceases

Moscow. Aug (By Associated ess)-Fourteen of the 34 social revolutionists accused Of high treason against the soviet government have been sentenced to death by revolu- tionary tribunal. Among the con demned are several of those who turned informers.
 Three of the other defendants were acquitted and the remainder given prison sentences of fro mtwo to ten years.
 Held as Hostages.
 The death sentence against l2 of the first group of defendants later was upheli by the central executive com mittee but an indefinite stay of execu- ton was ordered upon the condition that the social revolutionary party cease its counter-revolutionar activi- ties. Otherwise the sentenced leaders are liable to the courts judgment. Meanwhile all those sentenced to death or to various terms of imprison- ment are 10 be held in strict confine- ment.
 May Get Pardons.
 Regarding the informers, semenoff and Lydia Konoplova and others of this group. the committee agreed to request the tribunal to grant pardons to all.
 Defiance of the court was shown by 22 of the social revolutonists during pronouncement of sentence, which came late last night these defendants refusing to stand up with the others. This group was ushered from the hall by armed soldiers and sentence was then pronounced.
 Three Women Included.
 Included in those under sentence of death are three women-Miss Eugene Rather. who was the party treasurer; Helen Hanova and Lydia konoplova. who in turning informer, declared she was chosen by the party to kill Premier Lenine.
 Sensation in Court.
 Sensation followed upon sensation in the drama of the Russian revolu- ton which has been unfolded in the theatrical setting of the trial Of 34 mem bers of the socialist revolutionary larty. accused Of high treason against the Communist regime.
 The proceedings of the court were so different from the American and western European conceptions of iur- isprudence that to the neutral ob- server. it seemed more of a thrilling melodrama than a serious trial in which human lives were al stake.
 A brother was arrayed against a e:r o,,,o were bitterly pitted against each other; and the sharp divisions made by the Russian civil war between former friends were displayed day by day in coorful tableau set in a frame of bayonets.
 Openly announcing that the prole- tarian system of justice was different from that of any other. the presiding judges of the revolutionary tribunal permitted far wider latitude to both prosecution and defense than could be imagined by an American iurist.
 Prisoners were permitted to speak at will to interrupt witnesses and to make long political addresses from the benches where they sat. day by day | guarded by khaki clad soldiers with | tayonettetd rifles, At one time some | of the prisoners arose and threatened | to withdraw from the trial Again | they argued with the presiding judge that the hours Of sitting were too long.
 They feel that they are doomed; | for several years they have been inn l rrisoned and now, while they have the chance. they are going to talk politics." one of the counsel for the defense said in explaining the prison- CTS attitude, From the very begin ming of the trial on June s, the prin- cipal defendants took the stand that they were responsible, not to the | court but to history and to their own consciences and thereupon they began to carry on an unruly program that might we'll have shocked an American | judge into having them put back in ! their cells and ordering the trial to go on without them.
 Most of the courts rulings were against the defendants. Because of this Emil yandervekde, Belgian, once a minister in the Belgian cabinet, and a representative at the trial of the 1 Second, or Amsterdam Internationale, | withdrew in disgust and went back l home. He had been permitted to enter Russia as counsel for the de- fense, With him went Herr Lieb- | knecht brother of Carl Liebknecht, | the martyr Communist of Germany" l