BRITISH NAVAL SECRETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 277, 31 December 1909, Page 2

BRITISH NAVAL SECRETS.

THE PROSECUTION OF A DRAUGHTSMAN. By Cable.—Press Assoclation.-Oopvri«ht London, December 20. Mr. R. H, Bodkin, prosecuting on behalf of the Public Prosecutor, explained that Richard S. Knowleden was charged with taking documents containing cesret information, but not with imparting it to anyone elee. Eighty documents and instruments were found in his domicile. For upwards of two years he was connected with the wireless telegraphing school and wait very clever. In June he was seen copying wireless plans and cautioned. He explained that the copies were meant to help him in preparing for an examination. The explanation was considered reasonably satisfactory, but notices prohibiting similar conduct were posted on. the ship. Three detectors in his possession contained important improvements—the results of the Vernon'a officers' experiments—and the drawing constituted a record of the latest discoveries,

A previous wire stated that Knowleden was committed for trial at Portsmouth for stealing a wireless telegraph receiver from the torpedo school ship Vernon, and also, under the Official Secrets Act, with unlawfully obtaining plans of models and sketches of apparatus connected with ethergraphs. The defence was reserved and bail allowed.