WORKER ARRESTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 18

WORKER ARRESTED

Under Secrets Act

A man whose name was given as William Burges, described as a second grade computer in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, appeared at Bow Street Police Court, London, recently, charged under the Official Secrets Act. After formal police evidence he was remanded for a week. Burges, who was described as a civil servant, of Macoma Road, Plumstead, was accused of having on December 4 last, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, obtained certain sketches, documents and information calculated to be, or which might be, intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy; communicating such sketches, documents and information to another person at Millbank, Westminster, on the same day, obtaining similar sketches, documents and information, attempting to communicate them to another person in Parliament Square on the same day, and having in ids possession or control

certain sketches, documents and information used in a prohibited place which he had obtained, or to which he had access owing to his position as a person holding office under the King, and communicating such sketches, documents and information to an unauthorised person. Detective-Sergeant Hughes, of the special branch at Scotland Yard, said that with Detective-Inspector Kitchener he saw Burges in Parliament Square. He told Burges they were police officers, and had reason to believe be had committed offences under the Official Secrets Act. and were going to take him into custody. Burges was cautioned and made no statement, either then or when formally charged at the police station. The magistrate said the charge was one which would require the fiat of the Attorney-General.

Burges made no statement in court.