Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-24
BRITISH BAR DEATH
FOR WOMAN SPIES
Home Secretary Says No
Woman Was Ever Sentenced
to Death for Military 0ffense.


LONDON. October %, 7:45 pm.-sir
John A. Simon, British home secretary
and former attorney general. in the course
of an interview today. declared that the
fate Of Edith Cavell. the English nurse
executed by the German authorities at
Brussels. had. and could have no parallel
In the records of Great Britain's treat
ment OF persons accused of military Of
lenses. Even in cases of clearly proven
espionage, Great Britain. according to
the home secretary. has never melted out
death sentence to a woman
No woman said he. who has been
tried for any military offense in this
country has suffered the death penalty
since the war began, or has ever been
sentenced to death. In this country a
woman. whatever her nationality, is al
ways tried by civil court"
The secretary explained that evident
dinerences existed between conditions In
Belgium and conditions in England and
that In occupied territory like Belgium
the administration of the law was ex-
pected to be slightly different
But he continued, the Cayell case
was not some sudden discovery calling
for drumhead court martial on the field
OF battle This was Brussels. where the
Germans claim to have established an
orderly government comparable with their
government at home. and have appointed
there civil governor"
Civil Trial for Women.
Questioned regarding the method OF
dealing with military accusations
against women in England. the home
secretary replied:
In the first place the accused person
is brought before a tribunal. which
holds preliminary inquiry. taking a
summary of the evidence. The accused
a complete record of the evidenc, oral
and documentary, is given-to the
cused. who is then allowed an interval
to prepare for defense.
IF the accused is u woman, the
trial always takes place before a civil
tribunal; II man. he has the right
to claim trial before civil court.
instead of by courtmartial, if he is
British subject At the trial.
for the defense have the same oppor-
tunities given the accused in the ordi-
nary course of peace times
The secretary said there had been
no cases in England precisely similar
to that of Miss Cavel. but in cases OF
espionage, where the proof of guilt
was indubitable and overwhelming, the
same traditional privileges were allowed
the accused.
I'm the last case involving a woman
in this country" said he, the offender
was of German birth, though technical
ly the subject of another country
| owing to marriage. She was acting I'm
association with male spy, and was
detected travelling to various points in
order to collect information about the
navy defenses The evidence aga nst
her was overwhelming and did not de-
ii.
documents in her possession and letters
| written by her and her associate.
Sentenced to Penitentiary.
Going through the preliminary pro-
cedure, as previously described, she
was tried in September by three civil
judges of our high court and jury.
and was convicted, not of harboring
German soldiers, but of deliberate, per-
sistent spying for the purpose of pro-
| viding the enemy with important infor-
demned to death. She was sentenced
| to ten years Imprisonment
Sir John explained that in addition to
the privileges for an adequate defense
already mentioned, an OPP y tunity was
always given for reconsider ng sentence
In the case of a court-martia reconsid-
Grafton always took place in 4 civil court
In such case as that mentioned, the
CoilutiIlHe0 person na0 the privilege OIL
appealing to court of criminal appeal
and for consideration by the homo sec
rotary. who would advise as to- the
prerogative of mercy. In the particular
case referred to the woman did not ap-
peal.
Neutrals Are Notified.
The secretary was asked what cogni-
zance was taken by the British govern
ment of inquiries by neutral diplomats
in this country in connection with trials
for espionage or similar offenses To
this he replied:
In any case. when the accused claim