Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-28
.LvDE:NDORFF FACES
MUNICH WAR court
ON TREASON CHARGE

MUNICH, Feb 26.-In the gloomy
all entrances to which were pro-
tected by barbed wire and armed sol
diery, General Ludendorff, his step
son, Lieut.. Heinz Peirnet, Adolf
HITLER and seven former army Of
ficers and Doctors were tried today
for treason.
His head held proudly erect. a mil
,itary and commanding figure despite
his inconspicuous civilian clothes,
Ludendorff stalked at the head OF
the little procession of prisoners as
they were marched into the dock.
Hitler, monarchist agitator, brought
up the rear, Juggling huge port
folio of defense documents under an
arm.
Both Ludendorff and Hitler were
warmly greeted when they entered
the trial chamber where sixty news
paper men and fifty witnesses were
the only ones besides judges and
guards admitted
OF the prisoners, only Lieutenant
Robert Wagner was in uniform.
Ludendorrf's bearing was proud
!, eand sneering, as though he ignored
= the somewhat ignominous position
with which he was confronted.
- The crime with which the prisoners
: Dire charged is of plotting against the
state in that they led the ludicrous
beer cellar" putsch that failed SO
completely November 8, 1928.
Charged With Plots
The defendants planned to claim
they were not guilty of treason, since
they did not aim to separate Bavaria
from the reich, but to establish
new form Of government. namely
monarchy.
The trial opened at $50 o'clock
a. M, the complete list of prisoners
including: General Ludendorff,
Adolph Hitler, Lieutenant Heinz Pier
net Ernst Poedner, DR.. Wilhelm
Frick, DR.. Friedrich Weber. Cap
tain Ernst Roehm, Lieutenant Will
helm Nrueckner, Lieutenant Robert
Wagner and Colonel Hermann krle-
bel.
. Chief Judge Ladgericht presided.
The streets around the war acad-
envy were barred to civilians and
assembly of more than two persons
In the neighborhood was forbidden.
Before the trial opened final
search of the academy was made
and extra precautions against fire
and surprise taken.
Defense Plans Changed
Although it was understood that
the defense OF the accused Wos 10
have involved throwing most of the
blame for the putsch that failed
upon General Won kahr and General
Lossow, plans were changed by oe-
Tense counsel at the last minute.
Won Kahr. dictator of Bavaria and
Lossow, head of the army, resigned
last week, The defense will insist
they co-operated in the putsch plans.
The trial began after the Judges
had filed solemnly into the chamber.
The list of accused was called and
-sJl answered there in loud voices.
Ernst Poedner, who has been Ill,
affirmed that he was well enough
to proceed.
District Attorney Stenglein read
the indictment which was a lengthy
recital Of events on that fateful beer
cellar night.
OF thedefendants, four are report
ed to have gone on a hunger strike,
and the authorities are said to have
taken steps to break the strike ana
keep the prisoners in good condi-
ton for appearance in court.
berlin SOCIALISTS PRINT
- BAVARIAN INDICTMENTS
y BERLIN, Feb. 26.-The socialist
news service today publishes what
purports to be an extract from the
indictments against those accused
of participating in the Ludendortt,
Hitler ,''putsch" attempt on Munich
last summer.
According to this extract the con-
duct of DR.. Won Kahr, the former
Bavarian dictator, and General Won
Tossow, who headed the Bavarian
,reichswehr, was held to be ''harm-
less" although they had relations
with Adolph Hitler and the others,
and were we'll informed OF their
plans.
The Indictment describes Hitler
as the prime mover, asserting that
he aimed at the overthrow OF the
governments OF Bavaria and the
reich, and that he allotted the Of
fices of state, giving himself the
leadership.
General Ludendorft Is declared to
have been acquainted with all the
plans, and to have acted as leader
OF the newly formed national
army"
He also is alleged to have issued
directions to the reichswehr regard
ing protection of the frontier and
formation OF national forces and
to have placed himself at the head
oe a procession in Munich to In
q fiuence the reichswehr and police
In favor OF the enterprise by his
iarnctica and 1nerSnn q ftN