The daily worker., 1925-01-12

WOThluS WOmeuy OudlEndu Ol tue ES
thonian Trade Union Council
Composition Of the Court.
All the members of the military dis
trict court at Reval are former tsar
ist officers who now occupy prominent
positions in the army. These old tsar
ist officers continue all the cruel Gus
toms of the hangmen of the last OF
the Romanoffs. In looking at their
solemn" stupid faces one cannot help
recalling the court martial of 1905 and
the years of tsarist reaction which
drowned the Russian revolutionary
movement in blood.
M. Trakman is the counsel for the
prosecution, former officer in the
czar's army, now captain in the Els
thonian army-permanent chairman at
all the trials of the workers. Thru
his hands have passed more than a
score of the best sons of the Esthon
ian proletariat, who were thrown into
dungeons for eight, twelve, fifteen and
twenty years Imprisonment. Among
the Esthonian bourgeoisie he enjoys
the reputation of smart and efficient
oppressor Of the labor movement.
M. Gelk, the presiding judge, lieu.
tenant in the Esthonian army, form.
er officer in the cars army. The
same characteristics as the proceed
ing one. 1t was he who caused the
court martial and murder of the late
Comrade Jan Tomp. 1t was he who
insisted on trying the accused on the
additional framed-up charge of armed
rebellion.
Who Are the Defenders?
Owing to the provocative attitude of
the court and the foreign Office in re.
fusing the admission of Soviet lawyers
led by Comrade Tchlenov, the accused
refused to have counsel, and only some
of the accused are defended by law.
yers appointed by the court. In court
prisoners from the dock exclaim /:
Keep your dirty hands off the labor
movement of Esthonia." This was the
answer of the accused to the question
of guilt that was put by Gelk, the pre-
siding Judge.
Rose Welston: II plead guilty in
not having succeeded in doing enough
for the liberation of the working class
of Esthonia, so that you. (Comrade
Welston wanted to say: should be
here in the dock)," but at this point
the presiding judge ordered her re-
moval from court.
Helen Laid: "None Of you can be
my judge" (She was led out.)
Ida Morganson, a working girl:
THE hangman's court of Reval can
not judge me-
John Tuster: II do not plead guilty
before the class court of the bour-
geoisie. I admit that l acted in the
interests of the toilers."
Pauk: II plead guilty that fought
against the oppressors and exploiters
OF the workers"
The chairman, apparently did not
I quite understand the reply" for he
asked him to state what he meant.
Pauk: st means just what l said"
Olga Kunapu: II believe that not
everyone who rattles his spurs is fit
to judge me-"
Jan Tomp: 81 do not plead guilty
before the court Of the government
run by the scoundrels of Esthonia."
Vladimir Kaugur: IF have to an
swer anyone, it is the working class.
Before the bourgeoisie and it's class
court do not plead guilty"
Rizev, organizer of Youth: "a Com
rnunist will never plead guilty before
bourgeois scoundrels."
Court Visitors Sing international.
At the first session the public in the
court joined the accused in singing the
international, and this compelled the
;'olice to take measures to clear the
court of any likely sympathizers
among them. According to most re,
cent information, only the nearest rela-
fives Of the accused are admitted into
the court, and those only on special
tickets, grudgingly issued each time
by the prosecutor.
In the last few days the reactionary
papers Of Esthonia started campaign
:nr the complete closing of the court
to all persons without exception, in
cluding the relatives of the accused,
md for the further hearing OF tho
case in camera. The fury OF the bour-
geois press even increased after the
shooting Of Comrade Jan Tomp and
he response which this foul murder
! aroused among the masses of the
workers thruout the world.
Thus, the bourgeois Esthonian pa.
per, Pavaliht. wrote about the muir
der of Comrade Jan Tomp: "The cul-
t'rit got what he deserved. The court
rendered just verdict, and the au.
thority Of Esthonian laws has been re.
asserted"
What Are the Charges?
The evidence in the case OF 149 con-
sists or II bulky volumes, while the
summary of the accusation occupies
apnroxina afaIv 10 nrfnfad abaot.