Police Medical Officials Deny Torture While Social Democratic Deputy Affirms It

Contradictory reports on the torture suffered by a young man named Feldman and a young woman identified as Natasha, at the hands of the Czernowitz police, were made today by the medical officials assigned to examine the alleged victims and the Social Democratic Deputy Lothar Radaceanu.

The report of the medical officials completely denies the story of the torture as reported in the Czernowitz Jewish press.

The officials declare that their examination finds the woman totally uninjured while Feldman’s sore feet are attributed to corns.

At the same time the policeman accused of responsibility for the torture has presented an alibi endeavoring to

show that he was engaged elsewhere when the alleged arrest and torture of the two Jews occurred.

When the report of the medical officials become known Deputy Radaceanu and counsel for the two Jews visited the victims in prison and made public a totally different picture at variance with the report of the medical officials.

“Even now, several weeks after the torture, when the wounds are somewhat healed,” Deputy Radaceanu declares, “Feldman is unable to walk and had to be carried into the visitors’ cell of the prison and his feet are as yet one big wound.”

Prosecuting Attorney Alexandru has refused a medical examination of the prisoners to be carried out by physicians not attached to the police department. He has offered assurance, however, that he will personally visit the victims for further investigation purposes. At the same time he reiterates his pledge that the police responsible will be punished.

The press comments that the statement of the prosecuting attorney is somewhat contradictory in view of the complete official denial of the torture by the police department.

The press disclosures of the case of the two Jews described the torture in detail and said the experiences of the woman in particular were unprintable.