Moscow, Mar. 2, Soviet Prosecutor-General, M. Andrew Vishinsky, to-day brought formal charges against 21 political prisoners on trial for their lives here before the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court and read portions of written confessions alleged to have been signed by a number of the defendants prior to the beginning of the trial.
Twenty of the 21 prisoners earlier had confessed their guilt fon charges ranging from a twenty-year-old plot to assassinate M. Josef Stalin and M, Lenin to a conspiracy to overthrow the Soviet regime in several provinces for the benefit of foreign Powers, M, Nichols Krestinsky, former Ambassador to Germany and Asslslant Foreign Commissar, was. the only defendant to plead not guilty.
then first arrested," he said) dramatically, "IE spoke falsely of my Own free will because I was con-vineed it was useless to deny my guilt except in open court."
'The restricted audience of about 200, including a number of foreign diplomats, tensely heard Mf, Krestinsky deny his guilt and frequently Peered at a curtained balcony above the judges' bench in the belief that M. Josef Stalin might be watching, the proceeding; The prosecution alleged that" all defendants as well as M. Leon Trot sky, exiled Russian revolutionary, had been involved in a gigantic plot against the Soviet regime. This plot was said to have included plans to assassinate Soviet leaders, including several men under medical care, 3 conspiracy to partition the country,
and plans to seize power and set up in collaboration with foreig, Powers capitalist regime throughout Russia, Britain, Germany Cited 'The prosecution alleged that Mf. Krestinsky hnd been a German spy since 1922 and alleged that M. N. Rosengoltz, former Commissar' of Foreign Trade had been a German spy since 1923 and British spy since 1038, Eighteen of the defendants waived the right to legal representation while three retained counsel supplied by the state.
The defendants also were charged with the murder of Bf. Maxim Gorky, noted Soviet author, whose death previously had Leen believed the result of natural causes. "The prosecution ssid the defendants murdered the author because of the influence at home and the prestige abroad which his adhereness' 0 Stalinist policy gave the Soviet regime.
Vishinsky said MI Akmal Ieramov, former Secretary of the Uzbekistan Perty, had confessed that the alleged conspirators "had to rely on strong European Powers to help "Britain Most Tell "We thought Britain was the most reliable becatise she was so strong."
Irramoy was quoted as having confessed.
Rykov, former Commissar of Communications, was quoted as having confessed that he "knew of connections with Fascist intelligence agents....and we had decided to separate' White Russia from the Soviet regime and give it to Poland."
The prosecutor, quoting from the alleged confession of M. Falzulia Khodzhaev, former Premier, read evidence implicating -M. Nikolai Bukharin, former President of the Internationale and editor of "Izvesfla," In a plan to separate central Asia from Soviet rule and request British assistance in the plot.
'M. Mikhail Chernov, former People's Commissar of Agriculture, was quoted as having confessed that he indulged in agricultural sabotage' under orders from German intelligence officers. MIN. Grigori Grinko, former Commissar of Finance, was! alleged to have admitted sabotage against Soviet finances—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.