TRIAL OF SUPPOSED SPIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2466, 20 May 1915, Page 5

TRIAL OF SUPPOSED SPIES

IMPORTANT CASE BEFORE THE CIVIL COURTS" NEW YORK CENTRE OF SPY SYSTEM London, May 1& The trial of Kuopferli, a supposed spy. in the service of Germany, has opened a? the Old Bailey before the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Justices Avory and Lush. Sir John Simon, the AttorneyGeneral is proseouting. It was stated that the accused left New York on; February 4 as a thirdclass passenger on tho Arabic, representing himself as an American. He arirved at Liverpool on February 14. Two others, Muller and Habn, similarly charged, will be tried separately. Evidence was given that lemons and formaline which had been used for invisible writing had been found on Kuepferli, and that ho had attempted to communicate by means of a letter with another German while in prison. Sir John Simon (the Attorney-Gen-eral) intimated that he would read the invisible letter in camera.

Tliis case was Teferred to the' Civil Courts by the military authorities, who have already taken evidence. Kuepferli's case _is of grave importance. When ho arrived from America, he was shadowed till he arrived in a London hotel. It is alleged that all worked in conjunction, using similar methods. The "New York Sun's" London correspondent states that Kuepferli's arrest reveals that New York was the centre of a German spy system against Britain. Kuepferli's movements wero carefully mapped out before he left New York._ and he accomplished his mission in Britain in five days, though he had never been in Britain before. The recent Defence of the Realm Amendment Act has established civil trials in camera with powers hitherto reserved t/3 the court-martial. GERMAN NEW GUINEA \ STAMPS AUSTRALIAN OFFICER. CHARGED WITH "GRAFT." Sydney, May 19. A' oourt-martial has tried Second* Lieutenant George William Moore, charged on two counts with disobeying his superior officer's orders. ' Moore was appointed postmaster at Rabaul, and Colonel Holmes (the officer commanding at Rabaul) ordered that no person should be alolwed to purchase over ten shillings' worth of each denomination of surcharged German New Guinea stamps, which had become of high philatelic value. Moore is charged with selling to Captain Ravenscroffs' over ten shillings' .worth, and, further,' with similarly purchasing stamps himself. The Customs discovered a pack* age In Moore's baggage, which Moore admitted, contained stamps of a face value of £100. .

Moore's defence ,was that at no tima had administrative' orders been issued restricting the sale of stamps, though' there was an order restrictingtheir sale to collectors and dealers. He considered the order applied only to tho case of persons other than troops.

In cross-examination he admitted that he had written to a dealer offering for sale stamps worth 13s. sd. in Rabaul for £30, and telling the dealer they were hard to get becauso administrative orders had been issued against their sale to dealers.

The court-martial has not yet announced its decision.

OCCUPATION, NOT AN ANNEXATION. (Rec. May 20, 0.45 a.m.) Sydney, May 19. Colonel Holmes, in giving evidence, 6tated that lie received specific instructions merely to occupy, not to annex New Guinea, which was still German, and under the Kaiser's jurisdiction.

GERMAN MILLIONAIRE IN TROUBLE CHARGED WITH TREASON TO THE FATHERLAND. Copenhagen, May 18. Berlin advices state that a millionaire Senator named Possel, residing at Lubeck. and tlio owner of Swedish and Norwegian mines, has been arrested on a charge of treason by supplying Ensland with metal and other goods. _ Ho presented Germany with a Zeppelin in 1914. " RIGHT OF APPEAL 10 THE* PRIZE COURT : : - SHOULD GERMANY'S PRIVILEGE BE ABOLISHED? (Rec. May 19, 6 p.m.) London, May 18. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson (Unionist) asked whether the Government would abolish the German right to appeal to a British Priza Court, remembering that Germany was asserting her right to sink merchantmen and murder their crews and passengers. Sir John Simon (Attorney-General) replied that Germany had presented only one case, that of their alleged hospital ship Ophelia. The Government had considered it best that _ Germany; should be given an opportunity to explain tho Ophelia's character.— ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Sorvicos.X