Great importance is attached to the precedent that will be set in the case of Joseph Rudzin, a German-Jewish refugee here, whose extradition is demanded by the Nazi government, which charges him with fraudulent bankruptcy. The case is now being heard in the French courts.
“Every German Jew should be considered a political refugee,” is the plea of Rudzin’s counsel, opposing extradition. Rudzin declares that his bankruptcy was the result of Nazi persecution. Because he refused to allow a Nazi customer to leave his shop without paying for goods which he had purchased, Rudzin contends, the shop was boycotted, he was terrorized, his business was ruined, and he was forced into bankruptcy. In fear for his life, he escaped to France.
The Nazi courts, however, have pronounced Rudzin a swindler, and demanded that he be returned to face trial. Rudzin insists that the Nazi verdict was based only on the fact that he is a Jew.
The verdict in the extradition proceedings has been reserved until next week.
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