German Spies in England: An ExposureLe Queux, William
History
German Spies in England: An Exposure
Le Queux, William
Secret service -- Germany; Spies
The accused, Carl Hans Lody, alias Charles A. Inglis, an enemy
civilian, is charged--first charge--with committing a war crime,
that is to say, war treason, against Great Britain, in that he at
Edinburgh, on or about September 27, 1914, attempted to convey to a
belligerent enemy of Great Britain--namely to Germany--information
calculated to be useful to that enemy by sending a letter headed
Edinburgh 27/9/14, and signed Nazi, addressed to one Karl J. Stammer,
Berlin, which contained information with regard to the defence and
preparations for war of Great Britain. The second charge is that of
committing a war crime in that he on or about the 30th of September
attempted to convey to a belligerent enemy of Great Britain--namely
to Germany--information calculated to be useful to that enemy, by
sending a letter, headed Dublin and signed Nazi, and addressed to
Karl J. Stammer, which contained information with regard to the
defences and preparations for war of Great Britain.
Lody's movements were very clearly traced at the trial by Mr. Bodkin,
who prosecuted for the Crown. It was shown, by the visé on the American
passport he was using, that he had been in Berlin as recently as August
4th. Another document found on him proved that he was in Bergen, in
Norway, on August 20th. In all his movements he passed as Charles A.
Inglis. It is not necessary to follow him in detail, but it may be
mentioned that apparently he reported both to a man named Burchard,
at Stockholm, and also to Stammer at Berlin. There were found in
his notebook not only a copy of the "Johnson" telegram, but also
particulars of British losses in battle and in the naval fight in the
North Sea, a list of German cruisers and German ships sunk up to date,
and also copies of four other communications to Burchard.
Mr. Bodkin made it clear that, through the Post Office officials,
certain letters to and from persons abroad had been examined and
copied, and in some cases delivered; since August 4th letters for
Norway and Sweden posted in any part of the United Kingdom were sent
to London and there examined. Several of these were to and from the
prisoner.
The main part of the evidence against Lody was taken in camera and
has never been made public, but that it was overwhelming there can be
no doubt; indeed, Lody himself admitted that he had had a fair trial,
and was quite justly dealt with. It was, however, mentioned that his
letters contained reports on such places as Queensferry, near the naval
base at Rosyth, and various other places round the coast.
There was a very remarkable incident when Lody himself gave evidence,
an incident which gives us a good deal of insight into the real
character of this remarkable spy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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