The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-29
KARL RADEK HAS
 DIPPED RUSSIA
Knows That He Will Face Firing Squad; Publicist
 Is Indifferent
BY NORMAN D. DUEL
United Press Staff Corresponden

United Press Stafs Correspondent
 Moscow, Jan. 29-- (U.P.) - Karl Radek, 52. "old Bolshevik", most brilliant publicist in the young re- public's history, detiantly maintain. ed his opposition to the govern rnent today in his last statement at the treason trial which has aston ished and puzzled people of many countries. Nervous, gesticulating, his face fringed by it's wisp of beard, Radek proclaimed loudly:
 "No argument can be found to defend treason. I can not ind ex- teIluating circumstances. can not say that Leon Trotzky misled me. I was an adult person. I followed Trotzky because I saw no other group which I could ffloin in poli- tical views. I joined Trotzkism voluntarily and I will bear full re- sponsibility."
 Firing Squad Nearer
 This responsibility is to the dreaded military collegium of the supreme court which was expected within 24 hours to order him and five other "old Bolsheviksr among the 17 defendants executed by a' firing squad. Radek followed, on the stand, George Leoniidovitch Plata kov, ~, former assistant cornmiSsar of heavy industry. Like Radelk, he did not ask for mercy but he did denounce Trotzlsy, exiled opposition leader and arch-eneuiy of the gov.1 ernment.
 T am only sorry that Trotzky is not with uS," said Piatakoy.
 Radek Was Defiant
 But Radek was all defiance as he faced his doom.
 He said that he was a Trotky because he believed 1t impossible to have socialism in Russia alone. But he did say that he warned Trotzky against getting involved with for- eign countries, and then found that Trotzlsy already was involved; that he was shocked to hear of plans to seize the government and was drawn inescapably into plots against the regime.
 Radek said he could finish his statement with his admission of full responsibility but that he wanted to deny the charge of the prosecu- tion that he did not plead guilty out of pure repentance.
 T gave evidence on the basis of its significance and on the basis of usefulness and truth" he said. T object to the statement that we are only bandits and spies."
 What Trial Had Shown
 He said that the trial had shown (1) the connection between Trot- zky and all counter-revolutionary forces; (2) that Trotzly was "the blacksmith of war" and (3) the or- ganization of the forces which were preparing for 8 new war. Pitaakov spoke firmly, as one of the "old Bolsheviks" who has faced death many times from boyhood, who knows the prison camps of Si- beria and once escaped from Si- beria to Japan.
 His plea was one of those that brought the trial to its end and brought the prospect of a new in- vestigatlon of activities of men men, toned in this trial as members. of the opposition, and then of new trial and more named and more Investigations.
 Trotzky May Face It Some observers thought 1t pos- sible that Trotzly himself might some time face a fight against an effort to extradite him and, as 0 grand finale. to put him on trial for his life.
 There was a note of hope in pleas of and for minor defendants that seemed to tell of hope for mercy. A lawyer for Gavril Efremovich Pu. shin, 51, former chemistry official, pleaded that he was but minor participant in plots and did not know that disintegration of the So- wet Federation was the aim. George Yakovlevich Sokolnikov, third of the old BolsheviIes, was the first of them t. ask for mercy. He said that Trctzkism already had crushed him.
 The rapidity with which the last statements of defendants was ptisil- ed through indicated that . verdict might be expected by 3 or { a. m. tomorrow (. or 6 D. m. EST today) | if the court sat through. Mother Makes Appeal Warsaw, Jan. % Cup) - Karl Radek's mother telegraphed an ape peal for mercy today to Josef V. stalin and Andrew vishinsky, prose- csltnr In the Moscow trial. She tainted when she heard Vish- insky over tho sadio demanding the death sentence. She ended her tele- gram to vishinsky with the words:
 "You. too, win one day stand bc. lfore the highest court z