Evening star., 1949-05-17
Romance No Issue
In Judith CopIon Trial,
JUDGE Tells Counsel
By JONES J. CulIinone

IlE PlI pOE bSQ IOFS Oi JUQltIl
coplon and Valentine A. Gubit-
chev. a Russian engineer. Will no,
be allowed to be made an issue
in the espionage trial Of the attrse-
tive Justice Department analyst
Judge Albert L. Reeves ruled in
District Court today
The issues in this case" de-
clared Defense Attorney Archibald
Palmer. are whether q man was
IN love with q girl"
That is not the issue and you
can't make 1t an issue in this case. s.
Judge Reeves retorted.
This exchange between the
white haired jurist and the fiery
little defense counsel came after
Mr.. Palmer asked FB1 Agent John
P. DAILY If the street on which Miss
Coplon and Gubitchev we're ar
rested In Greenwich Village was
not the kind Of quiet thoroughfare
which attracts lovers.
Judge Intervenes.
If two people are in love with
each other and want TO talk about
sweet nothings," said Mr.. Palmer.
they are more likely to pick a
quiet street like Fifteenth street
than a turbulent street like Four
teenth street. aren't they?"
Judge Reeves intervened and
told the. witness he need not
answer the question because 1t
was irrelevant.
Today is Miss Coplons 28th
birthday anniversary and she was
spending the day in court, as
usual for the last four weeks.
Soon after today's session began
she heard Judge Reeves lay down
rules to speed up the trial.
He called opposing counsel to
the bench at the opening OF court
to elaborate on the decision he
made late yesterday to restrict the
far-ranging cross-examination by
Mr.. Palmer.
Restricted to Three Dates.
The defense attorney was told
that he must confine his cross
examination to events that hap
pened on January IA. February
18 and March 4-the three occa-
sions when Miss Coplon was OBJ
served meeting Gubitchev, 81
year-old Russian, employed by
the United Nations. The Govern
ment charges she turned over to
him Government documents.
Much of the time in the trial
has been consumed by Mr..
Palmer's searching examination
about events that occurred on
other dates while Miss Coplon was
being shadowed by FBI agents.
Judge Reeves said that what hap
pened at any time other than the
three dates named in the indict-
ment is immaterial in the present
case.
Every violator of the law could
easily name endless days of good
conduct" Judge Reeves declared
as he pointed out that the Govern
ment does not contend that Miss
Coplon acted suspiciously at any
time other than three occasions
named in the indictment.
Judge Reeves also told MIR.
Palmer that he was fatty reject
ing the suggestion made last week
that the jury be taken to New
York for o personal trip over the
circuitous routes followed by Miss
Coplon and Gubitchev as they
kept their three rendezvous.
Daley Recalled by Defense.
Specifically. Miss Coplon is
charged with removing confidential
documents from Government files
with intent to aid foreign power
and injure the United States.
Although MFR. Palmer indicated
yesterday that he was through
with his cross-examination of Mr..
Daley, he demanded that the FBI
man be recalled to the witness
stand for further questioning
again today. MIR. Daley was still
on the stand telling how he
shadowed Miss Coplon and Gu
bitchev on March when the
court recessed for lunch.
Both Miss Coplon and Gubit-
chev were indicted in New York
on charges of conspiracy to vio-
late espionage laws. She was in
dicted alone here on charges Of
violating espionage statutes. The
conspiracy trial In New York has
been postponed until the trial
here Is completed.