ESPIONAGE TRIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 71, 4 January 1935, Page 3

ESPIONAGE TRIAL.

SPIES SENT TO PRISON. FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. Captain Froge of th© QuartetmasterGeneral's Staff at Belfort, a distinguished French wartime officer, who carried his regiment's flag under the Arc de Triomphe after the Armistice, was sent to prison far five years recently by a Civil Court at Belfort for espionage. The trial, which began in an atmosphere of tense excitement—armed guards preventing the crowds from approaching the building ended in gloomy silence. Stanislas Grauss, the Polish spy, who was also on trial, was sentenced to a similar term of imprisonment. As soon as the presiding Judge had announced that the sitting was public. Maitre Jean Legrand, Froge's counsel, made a short speech insisting that the proceedings should be reopened in view of fresh facts which had been brought to his notice last week.

"You have a heavy duty to perform to-day," said Maitre Legrand, addressing the Judges. "Tragic events may follow your decision. You have no right to judge in such conditions. For months we have been a prey to. the machinations of the French secret service. Are you not afraid that it will be said if you refuse a supplementary inquiry that in this case everything is crooked and suspect." The public prosecutor said thaii none of the facts raised by Maitre Legrand was new. He, therefore, insisted on an immediate judgment. *M. Ddeudonne, the presiding Judge, summed up briefly: Froge had betrayed documents concerning French national defence to Stanislas Krauss, the Polish spy who had delivered them to a foreign Power. The disappearance of the plan for the defence of Belfort i territory was due to Froge. Everything which Krauss had affirmed when stating that he had met Froge secretly several times in Paris and Bei/ort had been confirmed. Froge's speculations on the Pans Bourse, the Judge stated, were both .grave and dangerous. ° The sentence, besides condemning to five years' imprisonment, deprived him of civil rights for 10 years and of Jiving in Beifort for 10 years. He and Krauss are to bear the cost of the case, or to serve six months extra imprisonment. Notice of appeal was lodged. , Legal circles were surprised by tne issue of an outspoken statement attacking the judgment on Captain Froge. The statement says: "It seems that" not one line of the judgment replies to the objections raised by the defence. Must one conclude from tins that a reply was difficult ? "It is not difficult, by neglecting objections and contradictions, to pile up charges which have been refuted That is why we have appealed with confidence from this judgment." This statement is regarded as) one of the most remarkable ever delivered by a barrister on the judgment of a Court.