Evening star., 1949-02-08
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pin told correspondents the state
ments about him were nonsense
and pure fantasy"
"It is what could be expected,
he said. THE implications con-
cerning me in the court presi-
dents final remarks, as well as the
allegations during the proceedings,
implying improper contacts on
my part and on that of the dele
CATION, are nonsense and pure
fantasy.
1T should be stressed that it is
extremely difficult to comment on
any part of the proceedings. since
the Hungarian government has
not permitted any official West
ern diplomatic observer to attend
I the trial"
All But One Appeal.
| All but one of Cardinal Minds
zenty's co-defendants appealed
their sentences.
The sentences and the charges
on which the court convicted
them:
Duke Paul Esterhazy. richest
man in prewar Hungary, Is years;
trying to overthrow the govern
ment and foreign exchange specu-
lation.
The Rev. Ondras Zakar. the
cardinals young secretary. six
years: trying to overthrow the
government and treason.
The Rev. Miklos Macy, secretary
of the lay organization, Catholic
Action, three years; foreign money
speculation and failing to inform
the government of crimes.
The Rev. Bella Ispenky. Father
Nagy's secretary. life imprison-
ment: treason and foreign cur
rency speculation.
Prof. Justin Baranyay. professor
of church law at Budapest Uni
versity. Is years; trying to over
throw the government.
! Laszlo 10th. former editor of the
Catholic paper Nemzeti. 10 years;
treason.
The court ordered that all the
2co-defendants be deprived of their
jobs. fortunes or political rights.
Five Men on Court.
The sentences were handed
down after a swift three-day trial
by a five-man court composed of
the professional jurist. Judge
Olthys, and -four associates drawn
from workers panel:1
OF the defendants. only Father
Zakar did not appeal. Cardinal
Mindszenty spoke a loud, clear
yes" when asked if he wanted to
appeal to carry the case to a
higher court.
Prosecutor Elapi protested all
but one sentence, that of Father
ISpenky.
The Appeals Court is not obliged
to act within 10 days as it would
in the case of a death sentence.
The life imprisonment sentence
made impossible any appeal to the
court for a permission to forward
a clemency plea to President
Arpad Szakasits; this avenue is
open only in cases of death SEN
tences.
Extenuating Circumstances.
Judge Olthys listed the three
extenuating circumstances in the
cardinals case, but then stated
that aggravating factors were, the
cardinals high station in the
church, his high degree of edu-
cation and the amassing of the
crimes he committed.
Cardinal Mindszenty stood
quietly, hands folded, face ex-
pressionless as Judge Olthys
pronounced the courts findings.
All the defendants stood in a
row, as the judges entered the tiny
chamber seven minutes late, at
9:07 am. (3:07 am, EST. Olthys
announced "the Peoples Court is
now in session."
The cardinal murmured as his
name was called in the rollcall of
defendants.
First, the judge announced the
courts findings in each individual
case. The tension grew with each
minute of the proceedings, because
in accordance with normal pro-
cedure the sentences were not pro-
nounced until after all the find
ings as to each individuals guilt
had been made.
The spectators visibly relaxed
when it was finally disclosed that
the cardinal had been sentenced
to life imprisonment-not death.
The prosecutor protested to the