GERMAN TRADE SPY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1931, Page 5

GERMAN TRADE SPY

EXPOSED BY ENLISH M AN.

JUDGE’S PRAISE.

A Nottingham manufacturer was responsible for the unmasking of a German trade -spy, who, at Cologne, was sent to gaol for a year, says the London “News Chronicle.”

Die judge and the Public Prosecutor contended the businessman for refusing to have .any “truck” with the spy, and for denouncing him to the authorities.

“The Briish deserve, .their,. reputation for fair dealing,” said the Public Prosecutor.

The accused ln-an, a 22-yetir-old clerk, named Loth a r Tischer/'until lately connected with a big (ionium trade orgutii* sation, wrote from an accommodation address in Cologne to a Nottingham firm offering to sell them important information about the activities of German rivals.

On receiving from the firm a cautiously worded reply, he wrote describing the efforts of the German combine to capture foreign trade, mentioning that 22,000 tons of manufactured goods were to be shipped by them to overseas markets in which British firms had an interest.

Tisclier proposed a meeting at Cologne with a representative of the Nottingham house, to whom he said be would disclose further trade secrets of extreme value.

A few weeks ago tlie managing-dir-ector of the Nottingham firm arrived in Cologne, but, instead of getting in touch with the spy, he called at the headquarters of the German organisation;: and placed tlie facts before the high officials, ■fiYou are sheltering a traitor,” he said. The police were informed, and the trade spy was arrested.

In court the Public Prosecutor contrasted the spy’s action in attempting to sell trade secrets to the hurt of the Fatherland, with the integrity shown in tlie matter by the British businessman.