Evening star., 1933-09-22
NAME H|NDENbURG
IN RE|CHSTAG CASE
Kin of Fire Suspect Claim He
Failed to See That Note
Was Delivered.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
LEIPZIG, Germany, September 22.-
President Won Hindenburg's name wa.
brought into the Reichstag arson tria
today in connection with evidence thai
Marinus Van Der Lubbe, one of the de-
PENDANTS. never received from his family
in Holland a letter begging him to ac'
cept the defense counsel they had ar
ranged for him.
The family applied to President Vor
Hindenburg to see to 1t that Van Del
Lubbe received this communication. a
letter from the family, asserting thai
he never did get the communication
was read to the court.
They desired that Benjaminus vii.
helmus Stomps, Dutch lawyer, defenc
their son against the charge that he
had set fire to the Reichstag in Feb
ruary. Stomps did not get in the tria
as counsel, but he was on the stand
today as witness.
Turns Back on Lawyer.
Van Der Lubbe made it clear he die
not care to have his fellow countrymar
serve as his lawyer. The court allowed
Stomps to speak to the defendant dur
LlS al ulIcIulloSlOIl, Uut vail ACA AoDos
turned his back on StompS and refused
to enter into conversation.
Before the intermission, Judge vii
helm Buenger questioned the defendant
concerning the letter from his family.
Did you get this letter." the judge
asked.
mo" Van Der Lubbe replied. Then
after a pause, he said: Yes"
The judge asked whether, after read
ing the letter, he had declined to accept
Stomps as his counsel.
"I don't want him." the prisoner re-
piled.
Arthur G Hays at Trial.
Arthur Garfield Hays, New York at
torney, who participated in the nvesti'
cation into the case conducted by ar
international commission OF lawyers II
London, attended the trial for the f1rs1
time. (This commission decided there
was ground for grave suspicion that the
Reichstag was set afire by the Nazi.
themselves rather than by the Com
munists they accuse of the crime)
Whether Van Der Lubbe was pre-
tending yesterday when he gave tht
impression of being half wit occupied
the Supreme Court during proceeding
earlier today.
Van Der Lubbes replies were some
times incoherent and he often laughed
because, he said, the trial was amusing
According to Prof. Karl Bonhoefter
a noted alienist, the 24-year-old Dutcf
brick mason was practically normal las
March when he was examined.
1T is not impossible, however, tha
Van Der Lubbe's recent refusal to TAXI
nourishment brought about a state O
emotional weakening which can wei
vent itself either in crying or laugh
ing" the alienist testified.
When Bonhoeffer examined and 90
served Van Der Lubbe last March, N
said, he found no psychic disturbance
and therefore was puzzled at the youn(
mans behavior.
The alienist testified further:
Last March he gave the impression
of an opinionated and positive man o
ready repartee who was PHYSICAL.
strong"
Police Inspector Testifies.
According to Police Inspector Heisie
who first examined Van Der Lubbe a
the time of his arrest while the Reichs
tag building was still burning, I'VE wer
able to talk to each other most easily.
The inspector testified further:
Van Der Lubbe not only explaine'
very readily all that had happened, bu
when the protocol of the hearing wa
read to him he frequently interrupte'
to request changes in his testimony.
, During ensuing days he often sug
gested what topic might profitably b
F.! discussed ct the next examination. H
seemed proud of the deed and con
sidered it necessary to awaken worker!
When taken to the scene Of the In
cendiary he showed a remarkabl
knowledge of the building"
Heisig declared his investigations i
Holland showed that V.sa Der Lubb
was known throughout the country a
a Communist
An allegation that Edmund Heines,
Nazi leader and now the police chief
Silesia Province, was involved in til
blaze was the days opening subject.
The states attorney read telegrar
from Heines saying he was at Gleiwit
from February 20 to March /. tn
fire occurred February 81.