Trial of the 149
Encyclopedia
Trial of the 149 is the name given to the legal proceedings against 149 communists in Estonia
that lasted from 10 to 27 November 1924. Many defendants were accused of high treason
. One of them – Jaan Tomp – was sentenced to death and 39 other people to forced labour for life. The trial of the 149 was one of the largest trials in the first Republic of Estonia.
. They all were accused of being the founders of the Workers' United Front (Töörahva Ühine Väerind). Several members of the Riigikogu
also belonged to this organisation.
This raid was the first in a series of operations that led to the arrest of 200 people. Communist newspapers and organisations were shut down. 229 workers' societies were dissolved as they were accused of unconstitutional activities.
Some of the arrested communists managed to escape and they could not be tried. In the end 149 people were prosecuted.
communists to improve their life. Of 149 defendants, 88 declined a lawyer. Not all defendants were present in the courtroom, and some had to be removed as they started to protest. One of the removed persons was Vladimir Kangur, a member of Riigikogu. Some people could not be arrested and tried because of their status as members of parliament. Some of these included Eliise Priks, Eduard Luts and Aleksander Rimmel.
The defendants faced different charges. The whole bill of indictment was 150 pages long. The most general and common charge was "participation in a pan-Estonian secret communist organisation".
Seven defendants were acquitted of all charges: Otto Laas, August Palovere, Peeter Palovere, Jaan Pois, Bernhard Sepp, Paul Sepp and Johan Steinfeldt.
Jaan Tomp had received his verdict before the others. He had been sentenced to death and executed on 14 November 1924.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
that lasted from 10 to 27 November 1924. Many defendants were accused of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. One of them – Jaan Tomp – was sentenced to death and 39 other people to forced labour for life. The trial of the 149 was one of the largest trials in the first Republic of Estonia.
Before the trial
On 21 January 1924, the security police raided a club called "The Workers' Cellar" (Tööliste kelder) where 185 representatives of workers' organisations had gathered for a meeting. The names of people present were recorded and the chairmen of the meeting – Hendrik Allik, Paul Keerdo and Jaan Tomp – were arrested. That same day, Vladimir Kangur was arrested in NarvaNarva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
. They all were accused of being the founders of the Workers' United Front (Töörahva Ühine Väerind). Several members of the Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
also belonged to this organisation.
This raid was the first in a series of operations that led to the arrest of 200 people. Communist newspapers and organisations were shut down. 229 workers' societies were dissolved as they were accused of unconstitutional activities.
Some of the arrested communists managed to escape and they could not be tried. In the end 149 people were prosecuted.
The trial
Most of the accused did not admit their guilt. Some of those who did came up with the excuse that they needed the money provided by SovietSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
communists to improve their life. Of 149 defendants, 88 declined a lawyer. Not all defendants were present in the courtroom, and some had to be removed as they started to protest. One of the removed persons was Vladimir Kangur, a member of Riigikogu. Some people could not be arrested and tried because of their status as members of parliament. Some of these included Eliise Priks, Eduard Luts and Aleksander Rimmel.
The defendants faced different charges. The whole bill of indictment was 150 pages long. The most general and common charge was "participation in a pan-Estonian secret communist organisation".
The verdict
The verdict was read on 27 November 1924.- 39 people were sentenced to forced labour for life;
- 28 people were sentenced to forced labour for 15 years;
- 6 people were sentenced to forced labour for 12 years;
- 19 people were sentenced to forced labour for 10 years;
- 6 people were sentenced to forced labour for 8 years;
- 15 people were sentenced to forced labour for 6 years;
- 5 people were sentenced to prison for 4 years;
- 11 people were sentenced to prison for 3 years.
Seven defendants were acquitted of all charges: Otto Laas, August Palovere, Peeter Palovere, Jaan Pois, Bernhard Sepp, Paul Sepp and Johan Steinfeldt.
Jaan Tomp had received his verdict before the others. He had been sentenced to death and executed on 14 November 1924.