Evening star., 1949-11-08
Burgnlan Sane
While on Radio,
Todd Says
Psychiotrist Feels
Nozi Broodcoster
Suffers Neurosis

Suffers Neurosis
If Herbert ]. Burgman was in
sane while broadcasting Nazi pro
paganda to the United State
during World War II he would b,
insane now. according to Wash.
ington psychiatrist who testified q
Burgman's District Court treaso,
trial today.
The witness, DR.. Ann c. Todd
was called by the prosecution as .
rebuttal witness. She is a mem.
ber of the Districts Commission
on Mental Health and a membel
OF the Psychiatric Board which
examined Burgman after he wa.
returned to this country from Ger.
many last spring.
Her testimony contradictec
statements by defense witnesses tt
the effect that Burgman was in.
sane in the period covered by the
treason indictment. A former
clerk at the American Embassy ir
Berlin, he is accused of remaining
In Germany after the United
States entered the war and Of
later broadcasting on the Naz
short-wave station. "DEBUNK."
Found Burgman Sane.
DR.. Todd said that after exam
ing Burgman she concluded that
he was sane. She also testified
she believed he was sane during
the earlier period.
Il felt that this man was suf
ferirfg from a neurosis and not q
psychosis," DR.. Todd said. adding
that she was of the opinion that
Burgman was able to distinguish
the difference between right and
wrong" and was capable of ad-
herring to the right"
Defense witnesses have testified
that Burgman was found to be
suffering from schizophrenia and
was pronounced insane when ex-
amined by an Army psychiatrist in
Wiesbaden. Germany, after his ar
rest in 1916.
Dr. Todd described schizophre-
mia as having an "insidious onset,
slow and progressive" and result
ing in the degeneration of the
personality"
Feels He Would Be Insane Now.
If Burgman was suffering from
1t in any period between 1888 and
1916. II believe that he would still
be suffering from it," DR.. Todd
said. She testified that the rate
OF cure in schiZophrenia is about
80 per cent provided that the NAL
ady is treated early enough.
"The percentage goes down very
rapidly with patients who have
been i'll year and is almost nil
with patients who have been Ill
over three years" DR.. Todd aAdded.
The defense has not disputed
the finding that Burgman is sane
today. but has sought to show
that he was cured between his
examinations in 1916 and last
spring.
Under cross ss-examination by
Defense Attorney James j. Laugh
lin. DR.. Todd was asked: WAS
the diagnosis wrong in 1898 and
1946?"
Contradicts Others.
II believe it was wrong" the
witness replied.
DR.. Todd also contradicted
other opinions of expert witnesses
for the defense who testified at
yesterdays session that Burgman
could have performed his duties
as a. writer and broadcaster at the
short-wave station while suffer-
ing from schizonphrenia.
II believe" said DR.. Todd, that
he could have gone off by him.
self and prepared manuscripts,
but that he could not have worked
with others without showing some
Of his symptoms
The defense was expected to
rest later today.
Government prosecutors con-
cluded their cross-examination of
Burgman at yesterdays session
by attacking his testimony as to
his intent in making Nazi propa-
ganda broadcasts to this country
during World War II.
Burgman denies he intended to
betray the United States through
the broadcastS.
Coercion Charged.
He says he remained because
he was stricken with an acute
heart attack on the night of De-
cember IL. 1s41, and that subse-
quently he was coerced by the
Germans into working for them.
Under questioning by Prosecu-
, tor William A. Paisley yesterday,
Burgman admitted broadcasting
the hope that the United States
should '''lose the war in Europe
and Asia"
did you not intend to weaken
the United States war effort
through these broadcasts?" asked
Mr.. Paisley.
"No, sir" the defendant replied,
Didn't you hope the United
States would lose the warp"
"No, sir"
what was your intention in
making these broadcasts?" de-
manded the prosecutor.
MY intention" Burgman an
swered, "was to obey the orders
that were given me-"
Judge Alexander Holtzof an
nounced he was anxious that the
case SO to the jury by tomorrow.
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