Evening star., 1942-08-04
Saboteur Trial
.FindingsStudied
By President
Review Of Army
Court Doto May
Toke Several Doys
BY JAMES E. CHM.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
President Roosevelt today held
the key to the fate of the eight
alleged Nazi saboteurs, who, by
their own admissions to the FBI
came to this country in U-boats
in June, with instructions from
the German high command to
blast and destroy the most vital
OF this country's war production
plants.
The special military commission
which Mr.. Roosevelt appointed to
give the enemy agents a fair trial,
has turned over to him in a sealed
envelope the verdict it reached after
an 18-day proceeding in the Justice
Department Building, where the
eight prisoners themselves took the
witness stand to make a plea for
their lives. The decision is still a
matter OF secrecy, every one con-
nected with the historic case having
taken a solemn pledge at the be-
ginning of the trial they would not
say anything about 1t.
Study May Take Days.
The President, who, under his
own proclamation creating the spe-
c1al commission, must review and
approve the verdict, may announce
his action today, but the latest word
from the White House is he wants
to give 1t thorough consideration,
In view Of that situation, he may
take several days.
The President arranged to devote
most OF his time today to what
White House Secretary Stephen T.
Early described as a "very careful
review OF the commissions findings.
Mr.. Early said he could not fore
cast when the Chief Executive would
be able to finish the review, pointing
out that Interruptions probably i
would keep him from devoting AZ
much time to 1t today as he had
planned. He emphasized, however,
that this was the first thing on the !
Presidents schedule and that he
resumed work on 1t this morning
after. beginning the study yesterday
afternoon.
Data In Four Envelopes.
The commissions decision and
the supporting data were delivered
at the White House late yesterday
by Maj. Gen. Frank C. Mccoy, and
several members of both the de-
fense and prosecuting staffs. -Four
thick manila envelopes, which If !.
stacked on one another probably
would reach feet, were carried into
the White House by Gen. Mccoy and
the others with him. These included
Maj. Gen. Myron c. Cramer, who
helped prosecute the eight Nazis,
along with Oscar Cox, assistant So
licitor general, and Coils. r. Granville
Munson and John M. Weier of the
War Department. -
The decision Is supposed to have
been disclosed to the eight prisoners
at a brief two-minute session yes-.
terday-the final meeting OF the
military commission when it ad-
journed, according to its own an
nouncement, subject to "the call OF,
the President"
None Hints 1T Findings.
For several hours after the CON-
mission completed its work, Gen.
Mccoy remained at the Justice De.
partment Building. where the trial
had been In progress, presumably
to gather up the records he wanted
to carry to the White House.
Still maintaining the strict secrecy
to which all participants in the
trial had been pledged from the
outset, no one involved would hint
as to the decision Of the commits
sion. r.
Death, either on the gallows or
before firing squad, Is the penalty
prescribed for enemy agents who
come to this country in war time
on a mission of sabotage. =
The only official word from
the commission, indicating it had
reached decision and had recon-
mended sentence" was contained
In its last communique. which read:
The commission reconvened at
11:05 am. y.
THE commission announced that
the findings and sentence will not
be announced by it. AZ
The commission adjourned at
1E07 am. to meet at the call Of
the President"
Biddle Not Present.
The eight defendants were in the
courtroom at the brief and final ses-
sion of the commission. So were
most of the members of the defense
and prosecution stats. Conspicuous.
among the missing was Attorney
General Biddle, who helped head up /.
the prosecution force. He was re-
ported to have been out of the city,
The prisoners were taken back to
their cells at the District Jail after
the commission announced it had
reached verdict, but not until they
had been served quick lunch from
the Justice Department cafteria. A.
later check up at the Jail showed
they apparently had not been "un-
nerved' by the findings of the COM
and still rested their hopes.
on the outcome of presidential re-
view OF their case. Seven of them
last week were responsible for an
extraordinary session of the Su-
preme Court which refused to grant
their petition seeking q new trial in
the civil courts.
Letters to Be Investigated.
Soon after the commission wound
up its deliberations. Col. Kenneth
c. Royal, chief of the defense, left
the Department of Justice building
with this parting remark: -.
We have no further rights in this
case. We are leaving"
Col. Cassius M. Dowell, also Of the
defense staff, revealed that scores OF.
letters had poured into his once
during the long trial both criticisms
and approving action Of the Army
omcers appointed to fight for the
eight enemy agents.
Col. Dowell said some of the mail
the letters written in approval Of
the defense staff's action-would
be turned oVer IN tha RnY auA 49,