Evening star., 1949-05-11
Spy Trial No Vaudeville Show,
Judge Warns After Laughter
BY jones ]. CuIlinene

lof Judith Coplon lis not a vaude
tville show" and warned spectator
they would be removed from tn,
courtroom II they laughed again
at the cross-examination tactics o
Defense Counsel Archibald Palmer
Mr.. Palmer, aroused by Judg,
Reeves summary dismissal Of hi
motion to declare the indictmen
against Miss Coplon invalid. ros,
to new heights in his two and
half weeks old display Of lega
pyrotechnics.
Several times the crowded
courtroom resounded with laugh
ter as the peppery little defens'
attorney sought to confuse FB
Agent Brewer Wilson on the wit
ness stand. The final outburs
came when Mr.. Palmer drew from
Agent Wilson an admission tina
ne CPalmep had not talked Il
him before he took the witnes!
stand Monday afternoon. Mr.
Palmer then added:
And ! gave you a piece ol
candy In the hall this morning
didn't t.
Judge Warns Spectators.
| AS the spectators. who have
been amused by the way in which
Mr.. Palmer continually munchel
on cough drops from five boxes HI
keeps on the jury rail. broke intt
laughter, Mr.. Palmer added.
well, I didn't want to keer
anything back"
n At this point, white haired. rs.
year-old Judge Reeves raped fol
order and said:
mfr. Marshal: ! regret that
have to instruct you that II you
see any person laugh or express
disapproval in any way you must
mark that person and see that he
leases the courtroom.
Il must tell you spectators tina
you are here solely as spectator
and you must not take part In thiI
trial In any way. either through
laughter or expression Of ijsap.
proval.
This is not q vaudeville show
and II you want to laugh, you'll
have to go somewhere else"
Quizzed ON Tip to FBI.
The irrepressible Mr.. Palmer
tested the effect Of the judge
order a few moments later b!
pointing at the prosecutors, Johr
M. Kelley, jr., and Raymond p
Whearty, and shouting:
II wish I had Mr.. Kelley ans
Mr.. Whearty on my Jury. Mr.
Kelley should be the foreman ant
MIR. Whearty should be - ="
Judge Reeves broke in with tn.
stern command: THAT will bt
all. Let's get on with this case.
Mr.. Palmer then asked Agenl
Wilson II he had ever been tolt
that the wife Of Valentine A
Guhitchev, 81, q Soviet engineer
and Miss Coplon's alleged accom-.
plice in the spy case. was tha
one who had given q tip to ths
FBIs's, which put Federal agents
Ton the trail of the sccused couple
Questions Irrelevant"
Mr.. wilson said he was no
aware that the FBI had received
any tip In the case. Yesterday
1 Mr Palmer sought to show tina
4 s tfpster, seeking revenge, hat
started the FBI pursuit which re-
suited in the arrest of Miss Coplor
and Gubitchev In New York or
March 4.
Ibid you know whether Gubit.
chev was living on good or bad
terms with his wife7" Mr.. Palmer
asked.
Judge Reeves again interrupted
and admonished Mr.. Palmer tc
cease that line Of Irrelevant
questioning.
your Honor, I'm almost ex-
hausted," Mr.. Palmer exclaimed
apologetically. I'm almost ready
to capsize."
Miss Coplon's case received Z
setback at the opening Of today.
session in Judge Reeves dismissa.
LOT the defense motion to invali-
date the indictment.
The motion, filed yesterday by
Mr.. Palmer, asked Judge Reeves te
suspend the trial while he exam
|ined grand jury minutes to find
substantiation Of his charges.
When the jurist took the bench
at the start Of the trial this morn
ing MIR. Palmer asked that the
jury be excluded from the court
room while he argued his motion.
Suitcase Load Of Books.
The defense lawyer had en-
tered the courtroom with q suit
case SO laden with law books he
could not lift it. He slid it along
the corridor floors and down the
courtroom aisle to the counsel
table.
Judge Reeves curtly declared
the jury could remain. because HI
was denying the motion.
Mr.. Palmer. who never overlook
| an opportunity to inject drami
into his actions. retreated back
ward as though he had been deal
q stunning blow. His voice rant
with amazement as he asked:
Wont I even be allowed Il
present any OF the authorities
have brought with me?p
| mo. sir" Judge Reeves repliet
firmly. II have given this matte
very careful consideration and tn
llaw Is very clear. You must un
lderstand that"
Renews Cross Examination.
every well, your honor" Mr.
Palmer replied. II know that yo'
and I have nothing else to do II
this city but study the law an.
TRY to see that justice Is done u
this case"