The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-20
IN own DEFENSE
L. L. L. Lincoln Shows Admir-
atty Wanted Him Imprisoned.
He Defies England to Convict
Him of Treason.

London, June 20.-IgnatiuS T. T.
Lincoln, self-styled international
spy" was extradited to England on
forgery charge at the urgent behest
of the British admiralty SO that he
would not endanser the British crown.
Lincoln, conducting his own case in
Bow street police court, brought the
admission from two witnesses that
they had been summoned to see ad-
miralty officials, who prompted them
to push the proceedings against Lin
coin.
At the end of the hearing Lincoln
pleaded guilty to two charges of forg-
cry and was committed for trial. When
he had shown that the admiralty was
the real cause of his extradition he
protested vigorously, declaring the
case could not proceed. He said it was
a violation of the treaty between Great
Britain and the United States
"A magistrate has no power to COM
NIT me for trial upon charges insti-
gated by the admiralty he said.
The Courts Side
The magistrate remarked that the
accused had introduced the admiralty
into the case, but so far as the pro-
ceedings were concerned the admiral
ty had no interest in them.
Seebohm Rowntree, whose name
Lincoln was accused of forging, was
called as a witness Under cross-ex-
animation by Lincoln, Rowntree said
he had participated in the proceedings
as the result of the promptings of the
admiralty.
The prosecution thought if Mr..
Lincoln were punished for forgery, -
said Rowntree, then he would be of
no danger to the British crown"
Thank God you said that" Lin
coin cried, dramatically.
He Proves Charge.
A Mr.. Goldstein, another witness,
testified that he visited the admiralty
twice and saw Captain Hall of the Sc
cret service. On each occasion he said
he was asked to assist in bringing the
charges of forgery against Lincoln. He
said he was told Lincoln was a dan
gerous person to be at large.
Goldstein admitted that when he
was summoned to the admiralty, he
was handed Lincoln's spy stories in an
American publication. Attention was
directed toward Lincoln. Goldstein
said, because his conduct in America
had made him obnoxious to the ad-
miralty.
Lincoln. conducting his own defense,
declared that under Article II of the
treaty with the United States, the case
could not be pressed. He declared
that instead of seeking vengeance,
the British government ought to have
honored and rewarded him.
He defied the British government
| to proceed with the case in the face
of the treaty. He said the secre-
tary of state at Washington would de-
mand his immediate release, because
the courts of the United States 'ha d
been deliberately and wi1fully de-
ceived, lied to and imposed upon"
Disclosed German Secrets.
II will plead guilty to any charge
! of treason the British government
may bring against me; forgery is not
I the charge" Lincoln cried. IF the
! British government had carried out
| my scheme, with the means l had
given them. the German navy would
( have ceased to exist late last summer
I informed Captain Kenney of a Sc
| cret service code by which the German
spies were informed of the movements
| of the British fleet. / revealed to hin
/ the methods of the spies in England
/ in informing their government of hap
penings in England and also how the
spies are financed in England"
Lincoln said he had never worked
for Germany. whose secrets he sait
he had betrayed to England, hi
/ adopted country. In pleading guilt,
to the forgery charges, he said he hat
been driven by ambition and lured b,
deceptive prizes into forging the doc
uments, and appealed 10 the court 70
| Justice tempered with mercy''