Evening star., 1949-06-23

citizenship papers.
| Data Slips In Purse.
I It was contended that the data
slips taken by Miss Coplon from
secret FBI files on anti-Communist
activities were in her possession
only as references for the book
she was writing and the civil
service examination she had plan
ned TO take.
/ The slips were found in her
! pocketbook when she was arrested
with Gubitchev in New York
March 4.
i The love angle in the defense
again was questioned when Mr..
Kelley asked Miss Coplon where
she spent the night before going
to New York on February 10 to
meet Gubitchev.
! The slender defendant bent
forward in the witness stand.
waved her hands at Mr.. Kelley
and cried in an anguished voice:
You branded me as spy. and
now you are trying to brand me
as a harlot. / want to explain
those headlines which branded me
as a harlot. / did not know
you were going TO stoop to those
sort of things!"
The defendant explained in
angry. half-hysterical sentences
that she went to Baltimore with
Mr.. Shapiro to buy suit for her
self. She spent the night there,
she said, and went on with her
companion to Philadelphia. stop
ping a second night in a hotel. She
was unable to recall. however. that
she had entered a shop in either
cits.
Miss Coplon declared Mr.. Shapiro
had seemed then a sweet" and
"platonic" friend. who had paid
the hotel bills and allowed her to
stop over" in apartments here
once on New Years eve in the
apartment of a friend because she
was i'll from champagne, and at
other times in his own apartment.
The witness insisted Mr.. Shapiro
registered at both out-of-town
hotels as "Mr. and Mrs. Shapiro"
without her knowledge, that she
believed he had his own room at
each hotel and had asked that he
leave her room. She declared she
had never. removed her clothing
and Mr.. Shapiro was primarily
interested in having her break of
her relationship with Gubitchev.
She said he wanted to marry her.
Tells Of Selecting Tie.
Miss Coplon previously had tes-
titled that Mr.. Shapiro helped her
select a Christmas necktie for
Gubitchev. She became highly
indignant when Mr.. Shapiro's
name again was introduced into
the cross-examination late yes
terday.
Mis- Coplon was under surveil-
lance by many FBI agents when
she met Gubitchev in New York
on January IA, February 18 and
March 4. She told the jury under
cross examination that the times
and details of her meetings were
fused together" in her memory
4hecause Of the, emotional strain
@hich became especially acute
when the Russian told he'-hewas
a-married man.
Mr.. Kelley asked her to explain
further why she was "petrified"
with fear when she met Gubit-
cAev on March 4yand he limited
they were being followed by agents
Of the NKVD. the Soviet secret
police.
sAFhis was an attempt by Govern
ment counsel to bring out more
Information about the efforts of
Miss Coplon and Gubitchev to
shake off FBI agents shadowing
them at the time.
You knew, you had top secret
documents in your purse at the
time" MIR. Kelley said. Did you
think the Soviet agents might be
after them?" The reply was In
the negative.
Thought Only of Self.
did you think. then. only Of
YOURSELF"
Miss Coplon replied that "the
force of selt-preservation is an
over-powering force"
Then you thought of yourself
only?" Miss Coplon replied in
the affirmative. |
Miss Coplon' said that Gubit-
chev told her a tall dark man"
following them might be an NKVD
agent. She said she looked over
her shoulder when the two left a
subway at Greenwich Village and
said, We're not being followed
any more"
The defendant declared she
then turned to her companion
and demanded to know what is
is all about" She told him, she
said, that he at first had limited
they were being followed by the
private detectives hired by his wife,
then suggested the secret Soviet
police. She wanted to know, she
said. If he really was married, and
II so. was he getting divorce.
Mr.. Kelley wanted to know why
Miss Coplon had said she was
terrified when she appeared to be
surrounded by secret agents-and
learned their nationality.
Sees FBI "Frameup."
When you learned they were
from the FBI." the prosecutor
asked the former Justice Depart |
ment employe. why didn't you
throw your arms around them and
exclaim. Thank God you're FBIl
and not NKVD agents'?"
Miss Coplon replied. why not?
They already had their arms
around me-"
The defendant said in response
to questions that she still believed
she was the victim Of frame
llp" by the FBI.