Evening star., 1944-07-30

and are taking the seemingly end
less trial with outward good humor
They follow the vast trail of EVIL
dence attentively, with only an oc-
caslonal nap when the reading OF
documents drones into monotony.
Hard on Witnesses.
Some of the Government wit
nesses haven't had the easiest time
Several from California waited
weeks to take the stand, the prose-
cutors fearful to let them 60 home
lest some sudden break in earlier
stages OF the case require their i'm
mediate presence. These witnesses
get $3.50 day each while they are
In Washington-$l50 so as a court fee
and $3.50 for subsistence. They re-
celve cents mile for travel ex-
penses.
One of them was asked on the
stand by a defense attorney if he
expected to 60 back to his Job in
California.
Il hope So" said the witness, "but
I don't know. I haven't got any Job
now"
Defendants who represent them
selves as paupers nty bring wit
nesses in their defense here at Gov
ernment expense, but this requires
court order and Is discretionary
with the judge, who must be con-
vinced their evidence is material
to the case While there is an OBJ
stacle in the District code, a bar
to bringing such defense witnesses
more than 100 miles from the city
at public expense, Government
counsel indicate that if defend
ant actually needs witness living
at a distance, way will be found
to bring him here, even If he has
to be subpoenaed as a prosecution
witness. Justice Eicher will take up
applications for these subpoenas
shortly before the Government
closes its case Mr. Rogge has prom
ised to give the defense two weeks
| notice.
Costly to Taxpayers.
The cost of the trial to date is
almost impossible to estimate, be-
cause nobody has attempted tabu-
lation of the varying elements of
expense, and the amount which 1t
will cost the Government in the
end is anybody's guess. Whatever
it proves to be, the taxpayers of the
District will foot so pere cent of the
bill.
Some of the various defendants
out on bond are professional men
of more or less means. Others are
described as pennileSs. These do
odd jobs, when they can, on Fri
days, Saturdays and Sundays and
sometimes at night. They live in
cheap lodging houses. At least two
are staying across the street from
the courthouse and spending their
courthouse square watching the
pigeons. reading or meditating,
One defendant is a waiter during
the evening hours at one of the
leading hotels.
Mrs. Washburn sits in the court
room and sews ribbons into orna-
lilNliVol Shapes llC oullDul OlS llllo
which her bits of ribbons blossom
are capped by various initials.
These spells words connected with
her work and she sells them to
those interested in her mission, she
explains cryptically. But not even
her attorney has been able to find
out what the ribbons are all about.
But they help to pay her expenses
during the trial, she told a curious
court attendant
Unable to Hold Job.
One defendant, painter by trade.
complains that every time he gets
a job some mysterious person tele-
phones and warns his employer
that he is "Sedition defendant"
and he is fired. His attorney is
investigating.
Three defendants are tool and die
makers, who worked for Detroit
motor factory. They can get no jobs
in their trade. but they work here