Evening star., 1949-03-05
Final Arguments Begin
Monday as Axis Sally
Trial Enters 7th Week
By jones J. CuIIinone


Closing arguments in the
treason trial of Miss Mildred E.
(Axis Sally Gillars will begin be-
fore a District Court jury of
seven men and five women at
10 am. Monday.
At the close of the sixth week
of the trial yesterday both the
defense and the prosecution an
nounced that they had completed
the presentation of evidence.
The defense received a major
setback when Johannes Schmidt
Hansen, former official of the
German Broadcasting Co., for
whom Miss Gillars worked, was
called as a Government witness.
He testified he had no recollection
of having ordered Miss Gillars to
submit an oath of allegiance to
the German government in
December, 1941.
Defense Drop Witness.
Schmidt Hansen had been flown
to this country from Germany
ostensibly to testify for the de-
fense. Miss Gillars previously
had testified that, while she
worked for three years under his
direction, she was engaged solely
on entertainment programs and
broadcast no propaganda.
Prof. Otto Koischwitz, an in
fluential figure in the German
Foreign Office with whom she fell
in love, forced her to transfer to
the division of the German radio
broadcasting to the United States,
despite Schmidt -Hansen's protests,
and introduced propaganda into
her broadcasts, she said.
Miss Gillars had told the jury
she denounced the japanese when
she received word of their sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor on De-
cember 7, 1941, and the following
day Schmidt Hansen called her to
his office and told her she would
be barred from the German radio
unless she signed an oath of al
legiance to the Nazi government.
She submitted the oath the fol-
lowing day, she said.
Signs Statement for FBI.
Mr.. Laughlin repudiated Schmidt
Hansen as a defense witness after
learning that he had been inter-
viewed by FBI agents and had
signed statement for them, after
he arrived in Washington early
yesterday.
Chief Prosecutor John M. Kel-
ley. jr.. said the Government un-
dertook the expense of transport
ing Schmidt Hansen to this coun-
try because it was reported he had
information of Importance in the
treason case. When the witness
arrived he was questioned as to
the nature of the information he
possessed, and then turned over
to Mr.. Laughlin for questioning,
Mr.. Kelley explained.
Mr.. Kelley asked Schmidt
Hansen only two questions when
he was called to the stand as
rebuttal witness for the Govern
ment: One if he recalled asking
Miss Gillars to sign an oath of
allegiance, and secondly if he re-
called discussing radio assign
ment in the Black Forest with
Miss Gillars. When the witness
gave negative answers to both
questions Mr.. Kelley turned him
over to Mr.. Laughlin.
Judge Curtails Questioning.
| Judge Edward NJ Curran re-
minded Mr.. Laughlin he was re-
stricted in his examination to the
testimony brought out" by the
Government when the defense at
torney sought to broaden the
scope of his cross examination.
Miss Gillars had testified
Schmidt Hansen had told her he
would make her the greatest
radio star" in Europe by assign
ing her to a new station in the
Black Forest, if she would not
transfer away from his jurisdic-
ton.
In response to a question by Mr..
Laughlin, Schmidt-Hansen said
he became angry with Miss Gill
lars because she left me-"
Mr.. Laughlin recalled Erwin
Christie nj, Miss Gillars immedi-
ate superior when she worked for
Schmidt Hansen. Chistiani said
he had discussed an oath of al
legiance in connection with Miss
Gillars' case with Schmidt Hansen
in 1941; but he was barred from
telling about the conversation. be-
cause the defendant was not pres
ent when it occurred.
Mr.. Kelley said he will spend