ESPIONAGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 5 February 1912, Page 6

ESPIONAGE.

UNFAIR .METHODS ALLEGED AT THE STEWART TRIAL.

ONE MAN’S EVIDENCE

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.)

Berlin, February 3

The case against Stewart was exclusively based on the evidence of a Belgian, who, according to the defence, while acting as interpreter and guide, thrust upon Stewart the information which was unasked, and then denounced him, witnesses showing that the Belgian was 'untrustworthy and had previously bpofi convicted in Belgium.;

The Court dispensed with, the evidence of the rest. STEWART SEN,TEN CED. Berlin, February 4. Stewart has - been sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment in a fortress. Stewart, addressing the public in Court, said he wished everyone in England to know lie was innocent. BRITISH WAR OFFICE. London, February 3. The War Office has issued fresh instruction to officers travelling to Germany, including reporting themselves in the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to the police and military authorities of every town. It was revealed in the course of Stewart’s espionage trial that the officer travelled to Germany without the knowledge of the War Office.

A CAPTAIN COURT-MARTIALLED

(Received 5, 8.50 a.m.) Berlin, February 4. The evidence sliowcd that Stewart failed to secure information endangering the Empire. He was shocked at the severity of the sentence. A Court-martial at Wilhelmshavcr. sentenced Captain Stoimbruich to a year’s imprisonment for carelessness at Christmas in leaving papers connected with the Stewart case in a waiting-room at Hamburg whence they were stolen. COURT CONSIDERS THE SENTENCE LENIENT. (Received ; 5, 12.45 p.m.) Berlin, February 3. The Court regarded Stewart as inspired by patriotism which was a mitigating circumstance in fixing the sentence.