A. Yes, during the trial he denied that he had said that the sermon had been an inciting sermon. This expression “Hetzpredigt,” [inciting sermon] he did not use. That is what he said during the trial.
Q. Describe, Father, the testimony of the other witness that had heard your sermon; namely, the wife of the mayor and Ortsgruppenleiter.
A. Well, the wife of the Ortsgruppenleiter had only referred, during the trial, to what she had told the Gestapo official, and the other witness, Kuffer, brought forward merely personal matters in order to paint me as an insidious priest.
Q. But this last witness that you speak of, Kuffer, had not heard your sermon, had he?
A. No, he had not heard my sermon.
Q. But the mayor’s wife had, is that correct?
A. Yes, the wife of the Ortsgruppenleiter attended the sermon and heard it.
Q. Well, Father, at your trial did the mayor’s wife testify or was the statement she had given the Gestapo only introduced?
A. No, the wife of the mayor only answered questions put to her by the presiding judge. She, herself didn’t say much.
Q. During the trial, Father, so far as you remember having observed it, will you please describe Rothaug’s conduct and words and statements from the bench.