SECRET TRIAL FOR POLISH wRITER based on New York Times report
A Warsaw jucge, on February 12, over-ruled defence pléas“and ordered a closed-door trial for the author ef an operetta, alleged to satirize such prominent Poles as Mr, Gomulka, the Cormunist Party leader, and Cardinal Wynszynski, the Roman Catholic Primate. Janusz Szpotanski, 34year-old author of the operetta, accused Judge Smaga o crdering prison officials ; to take back five books which were provided for him last week to help in preparing his defence. In spite of a court order allowing him a week to read the five books, prison officials tried to take them after four days, he said, He refusel, but next day tney were seized by court order, After an hour's adjournment, the judge returned with the books and admitted he had ordered them te be returned "to acquaint the court with their contents", He rejected defence requests for a three-day adiournment to allew Mr. Szpotanski to finish his reading, and said he could read them in prison or between trial sessions, The judge crdered closed—loor proceedings because matters “harmful to good morals" might be raised, Censors in Warsaw have banned a pre-war avant-garde play at the -r Naredewy Theatre, which was forced recently to end performances 0% a classic work by the nineteenth—century poet, Adam Mickiewicz, informed sources have discleged, The play is Gyubal Wahazar, by the late Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, sometimes referred to as one of Ienesco's predecessors in the theatre of the absurd,