Evening star., 1942-07-11

the Nazi band that landed on the
Florida Coast-was engrossed in
In conversation with one of the
defense counsel Werner Tiliel.
one of the prisoners who was
conspicous during the visit of the
reporters, spoke up at one time
to correct the Identification given
the newsmen by Brig. Gen. Albert
Cox, provost marshal for the Dis
trict of Washington, about one of
his co-conspirators
The room in which the trial is
being held-formeTly an assembly
hall for FBI agents-is long and
narrow, and is lighted entirely by
artificial illumination. Closed We
netian blinds and dark green velvet
shades behind shut out all daylight
and prevent any one from even peer
ing in on the proceedings from the
corridors of the Justice Depart
ment Building.
At the end of the rectangular
room members Of the trial commits
sion were seated behind a long
bench with an American flag in
the center Ut the background. There
are three other long tables in the
room. Two of them are near the
improvised bench at which members
of the trial commission are seated.
These two tables faced one another
and are a. right and left angles to
the table where the trial judges are
seated. On one side of the table
on the right were seated the prose-
cutton counsel. On the other side
sat Attorney General Biddle and J.
Edgar Hoover, FBI director.
On the opposite side of the room
at the other long table were seated
members OF the defense counsel
with the eight prisoners directly be-
hind them.
The first enemy agent In the line
up was Werner Thiel. Then, from
left to right: Richard Quirtn, Her
mann HeubaueT, Edward John Ker-
ling. Heinrich H. Heinck, Herbert
Hans Haupt, Ernest p. Burger and
George John Dasch.
Evidence Piled on Table.
Far in the rear of the room was
another long table filled with ex-
hibits-evidence which the Govern
ment . using against the eight Ger
man agents.
A hasty examination showed the
exhibits included clothing, a fatigue
cap with a swastika emblem on ii
such as Is used in the German mill.
tary service; tennis shoes, hammers
a small shovel used by the Nazi
agents to bury their cargo Of ex-
plosives In the beach sands of Ions
Island and Florida; civilian cloth
ing, two large, leather suitcases ano
a social security card.
At one end of this table there was
a big empty tin can ripped open al
one end The reporters were tolc
this had originally contained ex.
plosiveS.
When reporters entered the court
house, an FBI agent was on the wit
ness stand, located to the right O
the trial commission.
The 10-minute trip into the court
room by the news reporters was ar
ranged by Henry Paynter, Ifaisor
ofdcer at the Justice Department
for the recently created Office O
War Information. Gen. Cox CAV,
the reporters the information. the,
sought while In the courtroom.
Every newspaperman admitted te
the courtroom was issued specia
pass consisting Of a blue card signec
by Gen. Cox and countersigned By
FBI Director Hoover. The re.
porters who were selected to 60 into
the courtroom promised In advance
that they would only observe the
scene and not copy any information
on the cards attached to the mum.
erous exhibits.
FBI Witnesses Examined.
The commission announced later
in its first midday statement or
progress, that the morning had beer
spent In cross-examining the FB1
witness who had testified directly
yesterday and tn the direct ex.
animation Of a second FBI witness
Gen. Mccoy issued this statement
The commission convened al
1905 am. The morning was spent
in the cross-examination Of the FB
witness who testified yesterday, anc
in the direct examination Of a sec.
ond FBI witness.
After the morning session ad.
journed. the commission remained
in the court room to permit mem
bers OF the press to inspect the
court room.
THE commission expects to sit
this afternoon, without regard te
hours
1t was believed. however, that a
second communique might be issued
| about S pm.