Roumanian Antisemitic Terrorists on Trial: Codreanu Says He Organised Secret Organisation but Only a

Codreanu, Totu, Danila and a natural son of Professor Cuza, who are under arrest on the charge of organising a terrorist uprising to overthrow the Government and establish a dictatorship to carry out drastic measures against the Jews, have been brought up here for a hearing before Judge Radovan, with Advocate Procop Dumitrescu appearing against them as the State Attorney. A strong force of police was stationed in the court building to keep order.

Judge Radovan opened the proceedings by reading out the act of indictment, which accuses Codreanu and his accomplices of plotting against the existing form of Government, and conducting seditious propaganda to the danger of the State, for which they are liable under article 11, Paragraph 2 of the Law for the Protection of Public Order to sentences of imprisonment ranging from 6 months to five years, with a fine of between 10,000 and 100,000lei.

Codreanu admitted that he had organised a secret organisation, but contended it was meant only as a counter-move against the Bolsheviks. The principal charge against him, he said, was brought on the ground of a circular which he had issued as far back as 1928, calling upon various cells of his organisation to form themselves on military lines and to prepare for a great blow. He had long forgotten all about this circular, he said, and it had no real significance now. The former Minister of the Interior, M. Vayda-Voyvod, had examined their activities and had come to the conclusion that the organisation was not harmful, and he had permitted the consecration of its banner and its march to Bessarabia.

Lofter, who was described as a natural son of Professor Cuza, and who is charged with instigating the Student Dumitrescu to make an attempt on the life of M. Socor, the editor of the “Adeverul”, providing him with the revolver which he fired at M. Socor, argued that he had nothing whatever to do with Dumitrescu’s act. He complained that in Borsha thousands of Jews in black caftans and black hats had demonstrated with scrolls of the law, and the authorities had done nothing to stop them.

The Judge pointed out that it was a religious gathering, and there was nothing there which the Government could regard as harmful.

Totu, who murdered the Jewish student Falik, admitted the existence of the secret organisation.

Danila admitted that he had conducted antisemitic propaganda in the Marmoresz district, claming that the authorities had given him permission. Cross-examination by the State Attorney brought it out that Danila, who was not their a member of the Iron Guard, had been … mission to deliver lectures on cultural affairs, and had abused his permission to conduct antisemitic propaganda. Danila complained that he had been attacked by the Jews.

The State Attorney roundly condemned the conspirative activities of the accused and asked that they should continue to be held under arrest. The Judge associated himself with the views expressed by the State Attorney, and issued orders for the continued arrest of the prisoners, who were thereupon taken back to Vaceresti Prison.