Plot to Sell Arms Secrets

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 6

Plot to Sell Arms Secrets

THREE MEN GAOLED MISS X COMMENDED BY JJJDGE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Cooyright. LONDON, March 14. When the trial of Glading, Williams'* Whomack and Munday, who were: charged under the Official Secrets Act,l opened at the Old Bailey, Munday j pleaded not guilty. The Crown offered! no evidence, and Munday was discharged. Glading, Williams and W-homack pleaded guilty. Glading and Whomack were charged with obtaining the plan of a naval gun, and Glading and Williams were charged with obtaining a part of an anti-tank mine pistol, plans of an anti-submarine bomb fuse, and other plans. Glading was charged with obtaining information in a book relating to explosives. The Attorney-General, Sir Donald Somervell, outlined the case. He said chat the information obtained might be useful to a potential enemy. He described Glading’s scheme to obtain secret documents from Woolwich Arsenal and have them photographed and rcreturned, and he told how this criminal purpose was revealed by Miss X, who, at Glading’s request took a flat, where the operations were conducted.

Counsel for the defence argued thal what defendants had done was almost ludicrously unimportant. Glading was sentenced to six years, Williams to four years and Whomack to three years, all penal servitude. Mr Justice Hawke said he was satisfied that Glading was animated by the sole and vulgar motive of obtaining money. Miss X had done a great service for her country and must have possessed extraordinary courage.