The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-19


national pressure has finally forced
the German Supreme Court to bring
up the damning charges against the
Nazi overlords contained In the
Brown Book"
The courts refusal to allow the
defendants to read the Brown Book
into the record, as Dimitroff de-
nanded, is an unprecedented viola
ton Of the principles Of even bour-
geois justice. In consequence, the
defendants are left In ignorance Of
the main topic of the entire court
proceedings, not knowing the proofs
Of their innocence contained In the
Brown Book evidence.
Din1itroff protested theoretically
against the Courts order and de-
manded that he be given at least
some information as to the details
of the Brown Book assertions.
DR.. Teichert, the so-called defense
counsel, insolently declared that he
had already read the important pas
sage Of the book to Dimitroff, which
he denie d, sarcastically adding:
THANK you for your assistance
Not Single Defense Witness Called
Yet
Attorney General Werner began by
taking up DR.. Techert's demands for
corroborative evidence. These de-
mands were not made at Teichert's
own initiative, but under the PRES
sure of the Bulgarian Communist, de-
PENDANTS and world public opinion.
Werner moved the rejection of these
demands. Tecnert protested, This
court announced that 1t would rule
on the matter later. Up to the pres
ent not a single defense witness has
been summoned to the stand. There
is the danger that the court may
refuse to subpoena the defense witt
nesses under the prosecutions press
sure.
One of the first prosecution wiss
nesses called to the stand, an ex.
pert, testified that the panelling and
wooden furniture ID the Reichstag
session chambers were almost wholly
hardwood, and 1t was Impossible for
them to catch fire so quickly In 50
short a time and with the incendiary
methods described by van der Lubbs.
This puts the whole Mari case
In highly questionable Light Mons
of their expert witnesses Is willing
to testify that van der Lubbe could
have fired the Refchssas without
large quantities Of inflannmable ma
terial and the aid of several per-
sons, but the Nazis-afraid TO raise
the Issue Of who helped van der
Lubbe?"-are trying to maintain
that he set the giant building on
fire himself. 1890
Who Is "Great Unknown
The officials controlling the exits
and entrances to the Reichstag were
next on the stand. Dinnitroff asked
a question that placed the court fin
a highly unpleasant position, sWhe
Is the unknown who left the Reich
stag hastily shortly before 10 pm
after the fire had broken out---on the
night Of the fire, showing the official
at the door a deputy's Identification
card, which was examined by the
police lieutenant stationed at the
door,"
The witness repeated the statement
made by the other Reichstag Off
Gals, that the man was unknown to
him. The court was annoyed at this
testimony since it is obvious that no
investigation has been made Of his
identity.
Master mechanic Mutzka, next TO
testify, also declared that the under
ground passage connected the engine
room of the Reichstag with Goer-
ing's residence. This passage was
used often. In the day time it was
impossible for anyone to pass through
the passage, as workers were always
around. The doors TO the engine
room were locked at 9 pm. on the
night Of the fire.
The Oberfohren Memorandum
Attorney General Werner, then am
nounced the '"refutation of the Cber-
fohren Memorandum" This memo
randum stated that the incendiaries
entered the Reichstag through the
,subterranean passage, led by Heines.
Schulz, and Heldorf, prominent NaM
leaders. 1t asserted that the idea
originated with GoebSels andewas e'r
ecuted at Goering's orders. The
picked storm troopers employed had
inspected the premisesssthe previous
day. had entered with van der Lubbe
and then returned through the I'M
foreground tunnel aftera setting the
fire, leaving van der Lubbe in the
building. ~
Judge Buenger stated. that the In
nocence of Heines, Schulz and He'll
dorf is proved by their written de-
malls" Cd He ANNOUNCED that he
proposed to call all three as witnesses
as well as Goering and Goebbels
thus refuting the outrageous asser-
tons of the Brown Book"
Dimitr0ff Demands Brown Book
Dimitroff interviewed again, stat
ing 'the Brown Book has been
mentioned in court four times, but
the defendants have not seen It.
This is an incredible injustice and
l demand COPY
Judge Buenger, embarrassed ana
seeking pretext to shut him up,
forbade the term incredible" but
Dimitroff loudly emphasized his right
to speak thus. Judge Buenger again
threatened him With expulsion from
the trial.
Attorney General Werner rejected
Dimitroff's demand for a copy Of
the Brown Book, saying, "it was 10,
the authorities only"
Anti-War Mass Meeting