TREASON TRIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 62, 22 December 1945, Page 5

TREASON TRIAL

EVIDENCE FOR ACCUSED LONDON, Dec. 20. When his trial for treason, was resumed at the Old Bailey to-day, Walter Purdy said his whole intention in whatever he did while in Germany was to get back to England so that he could continue his activities against the Germans. Purdy’s, mother gave evidence that she received mysterious letters from her son while he was in Germany. They contained a code and bits of poetry. She took them to the Red Cross and later received acknowledgments of them from the Air Ministry and the War Office. Private F. H. Maton. of a commando regiment, -who arrived in Court under military escort, said he met Purdy in Berlin. They were both broadcasting for the Germans. Purdy told him that he was trying to perfect a code for getting information to England by radio. Purdy said he would try his “good-nights” after talks in different ways. Maton agreed that he himself had been charged under the Army Act and sentenced.

Margaret Weitemier, a young German woman brought specially from Germany, gave evidence that she lived with Purdy in Berlin from November, 1943. She believed he was working secretly for- the British Government. The Ges(apo in March, 1944, came to her house and arrested Purdy because, according to them, he was becoming dangerous.

VERDICT OF GUILTY DEATH SENTENCE IMPOSED (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. Walter Purdy was to-day sentenced to death at the Old Bailey for high treason. He was found guilty on two counts: (1) that he assisted the enemy by broadcasting and (2) that he assisted the enemy by preparing and editing leaflets to be dropped on Allied troops .

The jury found him not guity on a third charge, that he betrayed the secrets of fellow prisoners. Mr Justice Oliver, summing up, said Purdy was entitled to acquittal if the jury accepted that the motive of broadcasting was an honest attempt to assist the Allies, and if they accepted his own statement that he prepared leaflets under threat of death.

When the jury returned their verdicts, Purdy’s sister, Mrs Horton, collapsed and had to be carried from the court.