Evening star., 1951-04-06

ana chlef accuSer OF his doomed
sister and brother -in-law, will
hear his own fate today in Federal
court.
Greenglass could receive the
same death penalty imposed on
his kin-but he looks for mercy.
His testimony was the bulwark
of the Governments case against
Text Of Judge Koufmon's Spy Trial De-
eision. Poee AS
condemned Julius and Ethel Ros-
enberg. Federal Judge Irving r.
kaufman. who sentenced the
couple as Russian spies, noted the
courage" and "soul-searching"
that lay behind Greenglass' deci-
sion to testify against his family.
Greenglass. 29-year-old former
Army sergeant, was to have been
sentenced yesterday along with
the Rosenbergs and Morton So
bell.
ANVSSC hSAcu U1OTC lNlC.
But his sentencing was post
poned until today when his coun-
sci. former Assistant Attorney
General o. John Rogge, asked for
more time to prepare his plea.
Greenglass has pleaded guilty
to the same Indictment on which
the RoSenbergS and Sobell elected
to stand trial and were convicted
by jury a week ago yesterday.
His wife, Ruth. mother of two
small children, joined Greenglass
in testifying for the Government.
She has been named as a CO.
conspirator in the spy ring-but
not as defendant.
Greenglass, who was an Army
sergeant at the Los Alamos IN.
Mex0 atomic bomb project, tes-
titled that Rosenberg introduced
him into atomic espionage work.
He also swore that his sister en-
gagged in the espionage.
Sobell Got 80 Years.
Greenglass did not accuse Sobell,
who drew 30-year prison term
yesterday. The 34-year-old radar
and electronics expert was deemed
less guilty than the Rosenbergs.
Rosenberg, 80, an electrical en-
gineer, and his wife, IS, have two
small children.
Shortly after they were SEN
fenced to death, the couple burst
forth in song in their temporary
detention cells at the Federal
building. United States marshals
said they apparently were trying
to keep up their spirits.
Mrs. Rosenberg sang an aria,
"One Fine Day." from Madame
Butterfly" and Good Night,
Irene" Her husband sang the
Battle Hymn of the Republic. .
They kept up the singing for hours
as they had done at times be-
fore their sentence.
Judge Goes Sleepless.
Judge Kaufman, who faced
further ordeal today in dealing
with Greenglass, says he has had
only few hours sleep since the
guilty verdicts gave him the
power of life or death. The 40
year-old judge has made frequent
visits to his synagogue.
Counsel for the Rosenbergs and
Sobell have announced they will
appeal the guilty verdicts up to
the Supreme Court, if necessary.
Appeals would act as stay of
electrocution-set for the week of
May 81 at Sing Sing Prison,
OSsining. N. Y. Appeals normally
would consume months--perhaps
years.
An appeals court could reverse
the convictions, but only President
Truman could commute the SEN
tenceS if the convictions stood up.
Would Only Be Custodian.
At Sing Sing prison, Warden
Wilfred Demo said of the doomed
Rosenbergs:
If they are executed, it will be
up to the United States marshal
to arrange the executions and to
select the executioner. All I would
be is the custodian of the two
prisoners.
Joseph Francel is New York
States executioner. He never has
had a Federal assignment, and it
would be up to him to decide
whether to accept one. He re-
ceives $3.50 per execution from the
State.
Sing Sing hasn't had a Federal
prisoner since 1905. In that year
the Government opened Atlanta
penitentiary. For generations be-
fore that, the Federal Govern
ment boarded some of it's prison.
ers at Sing Sing. No Federal
prisoner was ever executed at Sing
Sing, however.