The Washington times., 1938-03-03

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one of the leading defendants in
the newest judicial proceeding to
arise from Josef Stalin's purge"
of traitors within the Bolshevik
ranks.
Accused yesterday of participat-
ing in a conspiracy with the
secret service organizations of
Great Britain, Germany and
Japan to overthrow the Soviet
regime, Krestinsky threw over
board all previous concepts of
Russian trial procedure by repu-
dating his confession and pro-
claiming himself innocent.
GIVES REASONS
This afternoon, however, he
told the court he had an an
nouncement to make.
Yesterday he said, "I was
overcome by shame and l was
not feeling we'll Therefore, /
told this court 1 was not guilty
of the charges against me. I
wish now to change this state
ment.
II plead complete guilt to all
the allegations in the indict-
ment."
Krestinsky was specifically &C.
cused of receiving $4,000 a year
from the German government for
information his high position
enabled him to supply to the
reichswehr.
Krestinsky's reversal made the
confessions of guilt unanimous.
It now appears virtually certain
that all 81 defendants will be
marched to the firing squad when
the trial is over.
Dragging himself and his score
of fellow prisoners closer to the
firing squad, small. hawk-nosed
vladimir /. Ivanov, former chief
of the timber industry. today
stood up in court, and almost
eagerly confessed:
81 am guilty of the worst
crimes, as a member of the
rightist bloc. I am ready to re.
veal all my crimes, and those of
the Others"
His head barely reaching the
microphone, Tvanov then plunged
into a detailed recital of his al
legged espionage and sabotage.
Ivanov was first to resume the
slow parade of the former highly
placed "old Bolsheviks," who one
by one barred their perfidy. He
began by admitting he was once a
member of the Czarist police, who
betrayed the workers"
WORKED FOR BRITISH
In the cross-fire of mutual &C.
cusations, Ivanov said he became
a follower of Nikolai I. Bukharin
the famous editor who sits near
him in the prisoners dock.
He said he worked for the Brit
ish intelligence service, and al
legged that a number of English
lumber magnateS were due to get
lumber concessions in the north.
ern provinces "after the over
throw of the Soviets."
In the midst of Ivanov's testi-
mony, the jittery audience was
startled when the alarm clock on
Judge VASTLY Ulrich's desk sud
denly went off.
Sensational charges that are
likely to come up later in the trial
were barred by the official news
paper Pravda.
It flatly stated that Dora Kap-
Ian, the social revolutioniSt who
shot and wounded Lenin in 1918,
acted under direct orders of Buk-
harin.
Bukharin then was summoned
to answer questions flung at him
by Vishirsky. regarding 1vanov'S
testimony.
"If my plans sowed the seeds
for an armed uprising" the
once-noted editor said, Il should
be punished for everything it In.
wolves"
"You will be punished" the
judge said ironically. I'VE won't
need any special request from
you for that"
REBUKES JUDGE
II know" Bukharin replied,
"but this is neither the time nor
the place for witticisms. When
it comes to jokes I am capable
Of them, too"
Bukharin told the court the
idea of an armed inSurrection
came to him in 1882, but Ivanov
insisted the editor had discussed
the plan as early as 1928.
Another discrepancy in dates
came to light today. During
yesterdays session, Paul Schaeffer.
correspondent of the Berlin Tage-
olatt. was named as an inter
mediary between German intelli-
gence men and some of the de-
1endants. Schaeffer, however, left
Moscow in 1929 and never re-
turned. He was washington
correspondent for his paper in
1881.
DATES IN ERROR
Schaeffer had been accused in
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