Evening star., 1950-12-10
Harry Gold, Atom Spy,
admits Mistake as He
Gets 30-Year Term
BY the Assoeioted Press

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. o.
Harry Gold. Philadelphia research
chemist today was sentenced to
80 years in prison for admittedly
serving as courier for a Russian
spy ring during World War II.
Gold previously had pleaded
guilty to charges of espionage in
wartime and conspiracy to COM
NIT espionage in wartime. He
was sentenced to a 30-year term
on each count with the terms to
run concurrently.
Specifically, he admitted serv-
ing as courier between DR.. Klaus
Fuchs and a Soviet espionage
ring. Fuchs now is serving a IA
year term In a British prison.
Colds sentence-the maximum
allowed by law short of the death
sentence-exceeded the recon-
mendation of the Federal Govern
ment for a 25-year term.
Shows Little Emotion.
Only three days away from his
40th birthday, Gold showed little
emotion as he was sentenced by
Federal Judge James p. McGran-
cry. The Philadelphia research
chemists haggard face he has
lost 35 pounds since his arres~
May 23-was the sole evidence Of
the strain under which he has
been laboring.
In a sober statement, Gold told
the court he had made terrible
mistake" But he said he had
received the most scrupulously
fair trial and treatment"
Most certainly" he added.
"that could never have happened
in the Soviet Union or any OF the
countries dominated by It,"
Judge McGranery said he chose
to ignore the sentence recon-
mendation from the United States
Attorney General because there
is need ITO deter others" who
might be considering following In
Colds footsteps.
Reasons for Remorse.
In a calm voice, Gold said mat
ters which have been uppermost
in my mind for the past few
months" prompted him to speak. |
-Four things, he continued. have |
caused him deep and horrible"
remorse.
The work done on his behalf by
his two court-appointed attorneys
has served to bring me to the
realization of the terrible mistake
I have made"
Secondly, he was deeply i'm
pressed by the manner in which
he was treated since his arrest.
Il am fully aware" he said,
"that I have received the most
scrupulously fair trial and treat
ment that could be desired and
that this has been not only in
this court but has been the case
with the FBI. with the other
agencies of the Justice Depart
ment, and with the authorities
at the various prisons where
have been lodged"
Thirdly, he has been concerned |
over the fact that those who
mean so much to me have been
the worst besmirched by my deeds
my country, my family and
friends, my former classmates at
Xavier University and the Jesuits
there, and the people at the heart
station Of the Philadelphia General
Hospital"
Gold formerly was employed as
n research chemist at the Phila-
delphia Hospital.
There is puny inadequacy to
any words telling how deep and
horrible is my remorse."
Lastly, he said, he has tried since
his arrest to make "the greatest
possible amends by disclosing
every phase of my espionage
activities by identifying all the
persons involved and by reveal
ing every last scrap, shred and
particle of it,"
Federal authorities have said
that Gold aided them by disclos-
ing the names of other members
of the Soviet spy ring. He recently
testified at the New York trial of
two others accused of espionage
activity.
Colds court-named attorneys,
John D. M. Hamilton and Angus
tus Ballard, announced later they