The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1914-11-27

l spent the night In the Glasgow
city prison, and was taken the mex
day before a magistrate and formal,
committed to a sheriff's court. Or
July II my case came up before the
sheriff's court. Waving preliminary
examination, was committed for trial
TO the Edinburgh high court. 1t Is
significant that the extreme length
OF a committal without trial under
British law is los calendar days. which
l05 days up to the last minute | GER
tainly waited. They were trying to
find out my antecedents, but they did
not succeed.
A letter from the Lord Provost IN
formed me that all material for my
defense should be in his hands day
before the trial. / had no defense.
neither denied nor admitted anything.
replied to his Lordship that as ] was
unaware of any offense there was no
need of any defense. My attitude was
a<profound puzzle-which was as |
wanted
scotland's "Most Sensational Court
Procedure"
II you care to look over the back
hles of the English and Scottish news
papers of the time, you will read that
my trial was "the most sensational
court procedure ever held in a Scottish
court Of justice"
Now | shall reveal every circum-
CtanPa nf ~ AZ 7
explain how, why and by whom l was
secretly released. Until / revealed my
self in the United States, even the
German foreign office thought me in
jail.
Against me the crown had sum-
moned 40 witnesses. They included
admlrals. colonies. captains, military
ana naval experts, post Office officials
i cannot recall ALL The press from all
parts OF Europe-for all Europe was
vitality concerned in this trial-was
represented.
Presiding was the Lord Justice of
scotland, himself no mean expert in
military matters. The Solicitor Gen.
erai OF Scotland, A. NJ. Anderson, who
prosecuted for the crown, was sup
ported by G. Morton, Advocate Depu-
W The government had indeed an
imposing array of bewigged, black
gowned. legal notables marshaled
against me.
A Word TO an Admiral.
On the first day waived examine |
ton on all witnesses except the naval-l
and military: experts. directed my |
IRE against Rear Admiral T. B. STRAIT
ton Adair, who superintended the ord |
nance factories of the Beardmore Gun |
works in Glasgow.
Inc admiral was called in on testi- |
mony concerning the new 14.inch gun.
The point they were trying to estab-
ish was that it was impossible for
man to have my knowledge of these
guns unless he had obtained it first
hand from the works in Glasgow. or |
course. that brought the testimony
INTO technicalities. | managed to in
Iolye the admiral in heated alterca-
leR on the trajectory and Penetrating |
power Of the so-much disputed l4-ireh /
Jun.
| maintained that my knowledge Of
runs was such that ! did not need to
py at Beardmore to obtain the things
knew.
The second day of the trial brought
he Chemical company letter into the
estimony-the letter that had been
efused me and had in turn gone back
the Chemical company. Very grave
Sir A. NJ. Anderson, Crown Prosecu-
Or, read the contents of this letter /,
loud. As recall the exact wording
was:
we are pleased t. learn your sue :
essful negotiations IL the business at !,
and. Be pleased to send us an early
ample. As regards the other matter
| hand | do not know how useful it
i'll be to US. In any case my firm is |,
OF willing to pay you more than 100
this case
1t was unsigned
What the Letter Really Meant
While reading, the prosecutor held =
e five ten-pound notes in his hand.
pom finishing he began a vigorous in
ctment which in substance he de-
aimed in this way:
ION the face of 1t, the letter does :
It seem suspicious But If you gem
,men will recall the times of Prince
larles' instructions, periods when q
er intrigues were going on, you will W
that in communications of d.
IS sort a government was always re- a'
red to as firm If this was an p
nest-business letter why was it en- IL
'sed in the envelope stationery of a 81
mpany that knew nothing about it? liz
by was this letter unsigned? Why
S cash inclosed with it? What was Y
firm willing to pay 100 pounds for? W
the reasons for all these
ngs are obvious" m
But the letter puzzled not only the m
lrt, the jury, the newspapers. but
England. For the first time I shall wi
" explain 1t: up
t was from the German govern m,
Mt. By the business at hand"
y meant new explosive and slow mt
ming powder that was to be used go
he new type Of 14-inch turret guns l
ng made in Glasgow. Some OF that liz
losive was in my possession. The Ia
that it was not discovered in nv ism