Evening star., 1949-07-03
Language Difficulty
Expected in CopIon
And Gubitchev Trial
By w. H. Shippen, Jr.

By W. H. Shippen, Jr. |
The approaching trial in New
York of Judith Coplon and Rus
sian who formerly was United
Nations engineer. may run up
against tough language barrier
in addition to complications of
international law.
Unless the co-defendant, Valen-
tine A. Gubitchev. 80, changes his
pre- trial tactics, he will insist on
interpreters to translate the entire
proceeding into his. native tongue.
Such a procedure undoubtedly
would consume more time. accord
ing to Federal attorneys, than the
10-week trial which ended in Miss
Coplon's conviction here for at
tempting to give Russia secret FBI
information on counter espionage
activities.
Passport Taken Up.
A report that overseas airlines
and other travel outlets had been
alerted to prevent her fleeing from
the United States proved to be a
routine notification that her pass
port had been taken up.
Lincoln White, State Depart
ment press officer, said that pass
ports of persons convicted OF a
crime are always taken up. Inter-
national transportation lines are
notified of the action as matter
of course, he said.
The notification was at first
interpreted by airline officials as
alerting them to take special pre-
cautions against her escape.
The conspiracy trial scheduled
to open in New York week from
tomorrow will be concerned with
virtually the same acts for which
Miss Coplon was sentenced to 40
months to 10 years in prison by
Judge Albert L. Reeves in Dis
trict Court Friday.
Palmer to Be Attorney.
Attorney Archibald Palmer Of
New York, who offended the for
mer Justice Department political
analyst at her trial here. is the
defense counsel of record for Miss
Coplon's next trial before Federal
Judge Sylvester J. Ryan in New
York.
While Mr.. Palmer is listed as
the attorney of record" for the
new trial, this does not prevent
Miss Coplon or her family from
employing additional counsel or
retaining other legal representa-
ton.
The testimony at the trial here
ran into more than 100000
words, and a comparable trial
translated into Russian could go
on indefinitely. In the opinion of
John M. Kelley. jr.. special as
sistant to the attorney general.
who was chief prosecutor at the
session here.
Gubitchev was said to have
spoken only a few words of Eng
lisil when arraigned after bis ar
rest with Miss CopletI ms New
York March 4. IS e..
Answered at First IN English.
Brought into court after his
indictment with Miss Coplon for
conspiracy to violate the espion-
age laws, the Russian was said
to have answered questions at first
in English.
On subsequent appearances,
however, he was said to have asked
for interpreters while members Of
the Soviet diplomatic staff were
present in court.
Under cross-examination by Mr..
Kelley, Miss Coplon said she con-
versed quite freely in English with
Gubitchev and that while he spoke
with slight accent he understood
her without difficulty and she had
no trouble understanding him.
The defendant explained that she
knew only casual word or two
Of Russian.
Gubitchev has claimed diplo-
matte immunity. Soviet diplo-
matte representatives have put up
100000 bond for him without in
teresting themselves otherwise in
the case, it was said.
Gubitchev has insisted on repre-
senting himself in court. and re-
fused to accept the services of an
attorney appointed by the judge.
Postponement Likely.
Gubitchev has been spending
part of the time since his arrest
at a summer place maintained by
the Russian government at Glen
Cove, N. Y, on Long Island. Efforts
to reach him there by telephone
have proved unavailing. the Asso-
ciated Press reported.
The Russian told newsmen last
month that he had no intention
of trying to jump bail.
Persistent rumors that one side
or the other would move for post
ponement when the trial is called
~I.L Lln.I A