Evening star., 1949-07-01
CopIon
Continued From First Page.)

Coplon
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the session, with Judge Reeves at
one point saying that Archibald
Palmer, defense lawyer, should
not be allowed to try cases in
Federal courts here again.
| Miss Coplon's statement to the
court came when the matter of
fixing a new bond for her arose.
Chief Prosecutor John M. Kelley,
jr., had informed the court that
he had been instructed to demand
100000. Miss Coplon also is
under $4,000 bond on the con-
spiracy charge in New York, while
a 100000 bond has been posted
for Gubitchev.
This court understands I am
a girl of limited means" Miss
Coplon told the judge. The only
reason they are trying to put such
high bond is to keep me at a
disadvantage in preparing my case
for trial and bringing me into
court from jail. They want to
show the court in New York that
I was convicted of an offense Sc
rious enough to require 100000
bond"
II understand now that I can
plead for mercy" Miss Coplon
said, after Mr. Palmer announced
she wished to make a statement
before sentence.
Il can plead for mercy. but
that I will not do as I believe it
would be at least a partial ad-
mission of guilt.
"I say now as I have said under
oath before that I am innocent
despite the accusations of the
Kelleys and my other aceusers.
They would have me jailed
in lieu of a 100000 bond for my
trial in New York City.
They know I'm a person of
limited means and they want to
break me by keeping me in jail,
but I'll never break!
Denies Breaking on Stand.
THE newspapers said I broke
on the stand and became hys-
terical, but I never broke then and
I never will. I believe I was de-
prived of a fair trial in this
loyalty-ridden town.
+ They'll put me in jail and 1t
will be difficult for me to confer
with counsel and prepare for an
other trial.
They're trying to make me hys-
terical and to embarrass me
Their tactics in asking for $780,
\ 900 bail are typical of this whole
filthy case. I testified I wanted
to look Mr.. Kelley in the eyes and
want to look him in the eyes
now.
Il didn't want to look at the
jury because I felt they would
think I was asking for sympathy
Judge Reeves availed himself
of the opportunity to give his own
review of the case:
In compassionate voice, the
judge said Miss Coplon has "a
brilliant mind" and he expressed
amazement that she would have
found herself in her present pre-
dicament.
Here is a young woman" the
jurist said, with infinite pros
pects-a great future in front of
her-yet she attempted to betray
her country. What prom pied
her to do that I do not know
He said he felt that "compari-
sons are odious,' but he wanted
to point out that the motives that
inspire traitors to betray their
country have always been a mys-
terry to loyal Americans"
Mentions Benedict Arnold.
He spoke of Benedict Arnold
lone of the greatest men who
fought in the Revolutionary Wal
Ia brave and fearless soldier who
later betrayed his country. To-
day his name is anathema and nc
one clearly understands what
prompted him to do what he did
i Judge Reeves reviewed the es-
pionage statutes under which Miss
Coplon was convicted and said:
II can't imagine more extreme
case of what Congress had in mino
when it enacted this law than this
case. I think Congress Was con.
servative when it made the maxi.
mum sentence 13 years in prison
for the crime that has been COM
mitted here.
I'm the country to which the
defendant attempted to give aic
and information, I seriously doubt
If she would have been given 9
trial at ALL"
Position of Great Trust.
| Judge Reeves pointed out thai
1.-THE testimony showed Miss Coplor
Occupied position of great trust
at the Justice Department and
had been commended by her supe-
riors for her work.
"She violated this high trust, y
lhe said. II must abide by the