Evening star., 1953-09-27

Mornard told police he
brought the alpenstock into the
house under his raincoat. The
handle had been cut down so 1t
would fit. Police also found a
14-inch dagger in a sheath sewn
into the pocket of the coat.
Mornard also had a pistol tucked
into the waistband of his trous-
erS.
In his pocket police found a
letter, dated that day, explain
ing his reasons for the kill. He
said he had been a faithful Trot-
skyite but became profoundly
disillusioned" with Trotsky after
meeting him. He said the reason
was that Trotsky proposed I
should go to Russia to organize
series of attempts, the first one
against Stain"
Later, under questioning, he
dropped his plea and said he
had become angry when Trotsky
criticized his article. He said
he struck the old man once on
the head and planned to commit
suicide with the pistol.
During the trial he changed
his story again. He said Trot-
sky called him "a military idiot"
and he insulted Trotsky in re-
turn. The old Bolshevik, he
said, reached for a pistol and
in self-defense he struck him
with an ak.
Trotsky's body was cremated
and the ashes buried in the
courtyard of his suburban house.
His grave is still there, tended
by his widow, who lives there in
seclusion with young grandson.
20-Year Sentence.
Mornard's trial ground on for
three years. Finally, in 1943,
he was sentenced to 1912 years
for the killing and six months
more for carrying concealed
weapons. The sentence dates
from the formal charges against
him, three days after Trotsky's
death.
Mornard has had his ups and
downs in the federal peniten-
tiary, where he is the No.
prisoner. For a while, when
Communist sympathizers held
power in the prison administra-
ton, he had almost the stature
of deputy warden, able to issue
orders in the vast, rambling,
stone structure.
Later, when the administration
changed, he lost his special pow
erS. But his perfect behavior
there is not mark against him
in his prison record-brought
other privileges. He now owns
and operates the prison radio
shop, repairing receivers for pris-
oners and outside clients.
He still lives in the maximum
security seetion-cell 27 in cell
block No. /. His quarters in
clude a sleeping room. a living
room and an open patio. There
is only one sign of extra precau-
tions in this block, where for
eigners are usually lodged. The
bars over his patio are only two
inches apart. close enough to
keep out hand grenade. Some
others have bars three inches
apart. most have none at all.
Mornard is free to move around
the prison, usually accompanied
by two other prisoners, appar-
emily bodyguardS.
Rebuffs Reporters.
He steadfastly has refused to
talk to reporters. Mexican or
foreign. To the latter he says
shortly:
II have nothing to say to the
press"
TO Mexican neWSmen ne is
even more pointed:
Go away, Mexican pigs"
His life in the prison is not
uncomfortable. He eats in a
commercial restaurant, run by
prisoners. He has ample money
to buy books, most Of them on
radio techniques.
Twice a week a Mexican girl
visits him, under lenient Mexican
prison rules permitting "conjugal
visits" by wives. or recognized
sweetheartS. His money, his
lawyer says, comes from an ac-
count he opened when he first
came to Mexico City. A dis
gruntled employe in the radio
shop, a released prisoner, said
recently Mornard receives 5000
pesos ($350) month. If this is
so. he has had $4,000 since he
was jailed, which points to a
big bank account. The lawyer
has refused to give any details. |
Thirteen years of prison has
changed Mornard only a little. |
He said he was SO at the time
of his arrest, which would make
him 40 now. He looks about
40, He has gained little weight
and a great deal of self-assur-
ance. During his trial he
seemed either sullen or dazed.
Now he has become arrogant
and appears not the least wor-
ried.
Not even when he considers |
what may be awaiting him out |
side.