Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-31
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE
IN BOW STREET COURT
Claim Made That Thousands Arc
Under Hun Bondage, Fear
Ing Exposure.
BOOK OF VICE HABITUEs
Witness Declares Volume Was Pre-
pared by German Secret Service,
and Contains Names High in Brit
fsh Political and Social Spheres.
fBy Associated prcs,1

tBy Associated Prcss.l
LONDON, May 3O.-Nocl femberton-
Billing. member of Parliament for East
Hertfordshire and publisher Of the
newspaper Nigilantc, opened his de-
tense In his trial In the Bow Street
Police Court to-day on the charge OF
ioelinS Maud Allan. dancer, and j. T.
hreln manager OF the Independent
Theatcr. Mrs Nillers Stewart was
called to testify to the existence of a
DOCK which Pcmbcrton Billing said had
bcen prepared by German secret agents.
containing the names of $1,000 persons
aiieScd to be addicted to vice and held
In bondage to Germany through fear
of exposure
airs. Stewart. under examination by
Mr.. Pemberton Billing. said the book.
which she had seen, but which was
not produced, contained the names OF
cH-Prenicr As1uith and Mrs. AsGuith
Niscount Haldanc. former Secretary of
war. and Justice Darling. who is try
ing the case against the member OF
Parliament
another witness. Captain Spencer.
SAID he was shown the book by Prince
William or WED In Albania He sa id
lie ala not remember seeing Mr.. As
auith's name in 1t. but he declared
=.
count Haldane were there
WITNESSES ASK THAT
THEY DE PROTECTED
Both Captain Spencer and Mrs stew
art said they had been threatened. the
former after he had communicated the
fact to the authorities: and Mr.. Penn
horton Billing asked the Judge for pro-
lection for himself and his witnesses.
~ ia,
commiss! Toner OF police.
Captain Spencer before giving the
names OF Mrs Asqui;h and Viscount
Haldane. said he would give only the
names OF those who had been APP
preached and had succumbcd 70 Ger
man temptation. He had placed the
information before tho Foreign Office.
the War Office and tho Admiralty.
There WAS great political pressure
brought TO bear said the witness.
and ] WAS told that Il II were pub
lishcd II would undermine tho whole
fabric OF tho government. / then took
II to the political machine"
Continuing his testimony. Captain
Spencer. who was a member of tho
international Ecndarmeric in Albania
before the war and aid dc camp to
Prince William OF WED and now "A
member Of the royal air forces. said
he wrote the article which contained
the alleged libel and which was based
on letter from Marie Corcli. the
novelist. Last September he had heard
OF camarilla In financial circles
whose object was TO get Asquith back
in power and make a German pcace
AS prccaution. he informed hmcri-
can naval headquarters SO that the
plot might be frustrated
Admiral Mayo and his secretary
came TO me and got the whole state
ment." he said.
ALLEGE EXCHANGES
BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
Asked whether he knew Of opc-a
tionS OF the camarilla between Eng
land and Germany. the witness rcp!icd
"fhey have had messages sent be-
tween England and Germany with this
intelligence
One OF the principal messengers. ha
learned from persons who had report
cd to the intelligence department, was
well-known English society woman
Mrs. George kepDcl. He had seen Mrs
ri.