The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-26
Wit NESSES
FOR TOECLER
"DISAPPEAR"
Nazis Determined to
Prevent Defense
Testimony
RENEGADE TAKES STAND
Courts Witnesses Dis.
credit Selves

AT THE GERMAN BORDER, Oct
rs (Via Zurich Two important de-
fepse witnesses were stated to have
Disappeared" when they were called
today st the oath session of the
Reichstag fire trial, in the Reichstsg,
Berlin.
This startling announcement con-
firms the charge OF the Communist
Party that the Nazis will stop at
nothing to prevent witnesses for the
Communist defendants to get to the
stand.
The police announced that a wit
ness named Birkenhauer, who could
testify as to the time Ernst Torgler.
Communist Reicnstag deputy arrived
at Ashingcrs' restaurant the night of
the fire, could not be found"
Another witness, Journalist
named Oehme. who could substanti-
ate a part Of Torg:er's abb, was also
declared to be missing"
A Nazi deputy named Karwahne,
who was expelled from the Commus
mist Party in 1925, for terroristic acts,
and who sold himself to the Nazis,
took the stand and said that at
pm. on the day of the fire he saw
Torgler, with Van der Lubbe, the
1azi tool who has admitted his part
in the fire, standing behind him.
Il had the impression Immediately
that there was something rotten go
ing on, he said.
AT THE GERMAN BORDER, oct.
"a CVia zurich) Two further wit
nesses brought forward to inlplicate
the Communist defendants in the
Reichstag fire completely discredited
themselves on the stand in today's
afternoon session of the trial in the
Reichstag building, Berlin.
The son Of Mrs. Proetzsch, neigh
Dor of Ernst Torgler, Communist
leader and defendant who had tes-
titled she saw Torgler carrying two
bags from his house on the morn
ing of the fire, was put on the stand
to corroborate his mothers testi-
mony.
He said he had also seen Torgler
carrying two bags, and that on the
morning after the fire he remarked
to his mother: Now I know what
was in Torgler's bags
Stupid Answers Make Court Laugh
When asked if one bag was smaller
than the other, he said: 'Tfe other
was considerably larger"
Asked again, he said: zone was
brown, and the other was consider
ably larger"
Asked a third time, he answered:
"Cne was brown and the other was
larger, but I prefer not to take oath
on this" The whole courtroom shook
with laughter.
What party do you belong tor
Dinitroff asked.
'T am a waiter, I servs every-
body said the witness.
Later Hornemann, Reichstag
caretaker, took the stand and said
he saw Wilhelm Koenen, Communist
deputy, enter the Reichstag looking
suspicious"
Teichert, attorney for stte. Buls
= e4 4C'1L OO1l44llulllSb 0SlC1lOoAlbc3 StohC9
him if he saw any of the Bulgarians,
and Hornemann answered: Eyes, I
saw Dinitroff."
Dinitroff Protests Satiricalfy
Judge Buenger interviewed to say
that it was already proved Dimitroff
was not in Berlin on that day.
The Judge refused to allow Dirni-
troff's question as to what party
Hornemann belonged,
81 want to know who Is paying
this witness" Dimitroff demanded,
and Judge Buenger turned on Dimi-
troff and reprimanded him.
81 congratulate the prosecution on
this witness" declared the heroic
Bulgarian. At this point the judge
ordered Dimitroff to be silent, and
adjourned the court.
TcrgIer Alibi Confirmed
Hornemann was preceded on the
stand by Mrs. Refine, former secre-
tary of the Communist Party frac-
ton, who left the Reichstag along
with Torgler soon after pm. on
the night of the fire. She detailed
every action of Torgler from II in
the morning until after they left the
building in the evening, confirming
in every detail the testimony Of VIII
helm Koehne, Re:chstag deputy, who
was also with TorgIer that day.
She said that the coats Of the
Communists had been sent from the
cloakroom to their offices, and the
cloalzroom closed, contradicting this
testimony of Kohls, cloakroom at
tendant, that ne had twice tele-
phoned the Communist fraction room
without getting reply.
did ysu participate in the arson.
or have any knowledge Of it, Judge
Kuenders asked her.