TRAITOR HANGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 5 August 1941, Page 9

TRAITOR HANGED

BRITISH SHIP’S ENGINEER SPY IN PAY OF NAZIS LONDON, July 19. George Johnston Armstrong, a 39-years-old British seafaring man walked down the gangway from his ship when it reached an English port last March, after crossing from the United States. He carried in his head full instructions as to how to spy in his own country. As his foot touched his native soil a Dlain-clothes officer went ud to him, touched him on the shoulder, and, after confirming his name, told him that he was under arrest. That was the beginning and the end of George Johnston Armstrong as a spy. Yesterday Armstrong was hanged at Wandsworth gaol for syping against this country—the first British subject to be hanged for treachery in the war. Armstrong, who had an address in Commercial road, had offered his services to the Nazi spy organisation against Great Britain through the intermediary of a German consul in the United States. As a ship's engineer he had travelled the world, and was caught up by political intrigues in foreign countries. He had spent a good deal of his time in the United States, where he was closely watched by secret police because of his professed pro-Nazi feelings. lie was a suspect and a rank amateur, Armstrong was tried in camera at the Old Bailey by a jury of 10 men and two women, and had the death sentence passed upon him by Mr. Justice Lewis.

When he appealed he appeared in court handcuffed. He was driven to the court in a special car accompanied by special proson officers. His appeal was dismissed. Armstrong was banged, and not shot because he was a civilian.