The papers never reached me. Why, is related in the following pages. In prosecuting discreet enquiries to discover their whereabouts I learned, early in October 1915, that "Mahoney will be home before Christmas." My informant declined to vouchsafe any further particulars beyond the cryptic remark, "He's got something smart up his sleeve." Knowing full well that my friend was a man of infinite resource and initiative I was not surprised to learn a week or two later that "Ruhleben knew Mahoney no longer." He had got away. His plans had proved so successful as to exceed the sanguine anticipations which he had formed. On December 9, 1915, the day after his return to his wife and children, who had been keyed up to the highest pitch of excitement by the welcome news, we met again. His appearance offered convincing testimony as to the privations he had suffered, but I was completely surprised by the terrible tale he unfolded. When the story narrated in the following pages was submitted to the publishers they received it with incredulity. After making enquiries concerning Mr. Mahoney's credentials they accepted his statements as being accurate, but my friend, to set the matter beyond all dispute, insisted upon making a statutory declaration as to their accuracy in every detail. People in these islands were stirred to profound depths of horror by the cold-blooded murders of Nurse Cavell and Captain Fryatt, of whose trials nothing was heard until the sentences had been executed. A certain amount of curiosity has been aroused concerning the Teuton methods of conducting these secret trials. Henry C. Mahoney passed through a similar experience, although he escaped the extreme penalty. Still, the story of his trial will serve to bring home to the public some idea of the manner in which Germany strives to pursue her campaign of frightfulness behind closed doors. FREDERICK A. TALBOT. CONTENTS PRISON ONE--WESEL CHAPTER PAGE I. ARRESTED AS A SPY 11 II. COMMITTED TO WESEL PRISON 29 III. HOW GERMANY DRIVES HER PRISONERS MAD 44 IV. MY SECRET MIDNIGHT TRIAL 60 V. WAITING TO BE SHOT 74 PRISON TWO--SENNELAGER THE BLACK HOLE OF GERMANY VI. OUR "LUXURIOUS HOTEL" 91 VII. BREAKING US IN AT SENNELAGER 105 VIII. BADGERING THE BRITISH HEROES AT MONS 119 IX. THE PERSECUTION OF THE PRIESTS 136 X. TYING PRISONERS TO THE STAKE--THE FAVOURITE PUNISHMENT 148 XI. THE REIGN OF TERROR 165 XII. THE REIGN OF TERROR--CONTINUED 180