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Parent Trial Update for Keenan
Date 9 May 1947
Language English
Collection Tavenner Papers & IMTFE Official Records
Box Box 4
Folder General Reports and Memoranda from May 1947
Repository University of Virginia Law Library
9 May 1947 Mr. Jossph B. Keenan 520 Woodward Building Washington 5, D. C. Bear Mr. Keenan: This will be a short report of the progress we are making. A committee of defense counsel called on me Monday in an effort to obtain Prosecution's acquiescence to a motion for a six-weeks vacation at the conclusion of the Russian phase of the case. The prin¬cipal reason assigned was that they were worn out and needed a vacation. Time for preparation of their Pacific phase was also mentioned, but seemed to be of secondary importance. I took a positive position against any continuance based on the desire for a vacation, and I have heard nothing further on the matter. During this conference it was predicted that the China phase would continue through the entire month of May, and that the Russian phase would last two weeks. Since this conference we have been exceptionally successful in the elimination of witnesses and documents. This has resulted in a complete collapse of the presen-tation of the Chinese phase and the Court was compelled to adjourn from Thursday afternoon until Monday morning to give the Defense time to reassemble their evidence and reorganise their case. Due to the speed attained the Defence has been compelled to abandon one whole section of their China phase as well as parts of other sections. The result is that the China phase is likely to be completed during the coming week. There is some prospect therefore that the Russian phase will be completed by June 1 or certainly by the end of the first week in June. No one can predict with reasonable certainty what will occur at the end of the Russian phase if we continue to be as successful in keeping them on the run as in the past weeks. I expect another breakdown at the end of the Russian phase. You may be interested to know that as of May 6, 84 witnesses have testified, 32 of whom have been cross-examined. In¬cluding a long list of basic documents presented at the outset of the Defense case, only 202 documents have been admitted in evidence while 207 documente have been rejected and 230 have been withdrawn or abandoned as the result of objections made and sustained.