THE ARRESTED SPIES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 5

THE ARRESTED SPIES

LEIPZIG TRIAL ENDS. SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENf:FOUR YEARS IN A FORTRESS; " ; ' v — ' — By Telegraph Prfess Association—Copyrichta: Berlin, December 22.' Brandon and Trench, tho two Ehglishmen arrested in August while photographiug tho fortifications 'at' Borkum, near the mouth of tho have been found guilty of espionage. : The prisoners have been sentenced to four.years' confinement in a fortress. r Expert cvidenco given during tho trial as to tlio precise significance of. tho discoveries made by the accused ,was heard in camera. The prosecution admitted that tliew wero extenuating circumstances in. th<." case. HOW SUSPICION WAS AROUSED, PRISONERS CHEERFUL. j .NO BRIBERY SUGGESTED. .. ■ (Rec. December 23, 10.5 p.m.). 1 Berlin, December 23. The Imperial Prosecutor stat "i ed in the espionage case that the fr®.;- ': quent visits to German harbours of the. training ship Cornwall, on which th© [ accused men served, had become mark, edly noticeable to German officers. .Ho argued that .the ■ accused had • in tho vessel, with a view'to serving ... tho" British" Intelligence Service. 1 The prisoners' counsel alluded to th#' .; Helm case, arguing; that, similar.'lenii} -' cnfcy should be. extended to the accused. ' ■ The President of tie Court, inter*' rupting, sharply said: '• .'.'We know noij; thing of the Helm case." Tho Court itself afterwards admitted ' extenuating circumstances, but took into account the danger to national do- ' fence which the action of. the accused' might have involved. r . ' Vv The tone if the• proceedingsthrouglj. •. out, was almost friepdly. The accuseds', frank and .manly bearing largely: con» tributed to this. ■ ■ ■ . . ' ... ' There ,was no suggestion that. th« , prisoners had attempted to bribe anyone. ' ' ' \ ' .. .V,;:; 1 ; ; The prisoners are cheerful, and satis-: . 1 ' fied .at the. result. They will probably . 'bis sent 'to' the fortress ;• at Glatz, -in' :: Silesia", ahd. : will be allowed all comforts and the society of the Governor and officers. ' : ■:• , . . > . VERDICT NOT RESENTED. ENGLISH PRESS VIEWS. - , ; (Rec. December 23, 9.40 p.m.) v London, December 23. ; The press generally view the: sentences withequanimity,, and V'ao*C; knowledge that espionage is.domroon all the Powers. ... Lieutenant• Helm,, of., the German?AxiajPi arrested -at Portsmouth "on charges ' of . ' espionage, pleaded guilty to Having coni- ': nutted a misdemeanour, rind was "bound over in the sum of_ .£250. The accused' : : gave a solemn promise not to repeat big offences. . : v"