WIRELESS PLANT SEIZED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2260, 21 September 1914, Page 4

WIRELESS PLANT SEIZED

. GERMAN OWNER ARRESTED. "Hugh Carl Albert Swewald, a "naturalised Gorman, residing at 82 Taranaki Street, faas arrested at 12.30j>.m. yesterday by Detective-Sergeant Itawle and Sergeant Kelly, bhe charge being that he was found in possession of a small wireless_ plant, which was discovered erected in lus bedroom. It appears that tJio man purchased tho plant from Messrs. Tolley and Co. as late.as Saturday morning last, that firm having obtained it from the firm of Messrs. Cederholra and Co., of Manners Street. Having wind of the purchase, the police, with an expert official of the Post and Telegraph Department, visited tho accused's room on Saturday night, and seized the plant, tho possession 'of which is, without the special permission. of tho Govcrnor-in-Council, an illegal net, and yesterday Swewald was arrested on a. warrant. The plant, which is a small one, was, it is stated, furnished with.fine dry batteries (from which tho power for sending mossages is derived), and it is said to be capable of sending a message 25 miles in the daytime, and under favourable circumstances over a hundred miles at night. It could also intercept messages sent in Wellington, either from our own wireless station or from a' Warship or other vessel in port Swowald, who stated to the police that he had only purchased the plant (for £8) for experimental purposes, is said to have informed his landlady that he was giving instruction. to members of the Expeditionary Force. He has, of late, been working as o gardener in Wellington, but was at one time a bat-tery-man employed at the Cable Station at Wakaouaka (Nelson). Swewald will be formally charged with a breach of the law (as set out in an amendment to tho Post and Telegraph Act) before the Magistrate ttnday.