Purdy Details Attempt To Formulate Code

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Purdy Details Attempt To Formulate Code

(Rec. 1.15 p.m

LONDON, Dec. 20

When his trial for treason was resumed at the Old Bailey today Walter Purdy, junior naval Jengineer, 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 Reel Cross and later received acknowledgments of them from the Air Ministry and Wav Office. Private F. H. Maton, of a commando regiment, who arrived in Coui’t under military escort, said he met Purdy in Berlin. They were both broadcasting for the Germans. Purdy told him that he was trying a perfect 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.

Margarete Weitemier, a young German woman brought specially from Germany, gave evidence that she had lived with Purdy in Berlin from November, 1943. , She believed he was working secretly for the Bi’itish Governmen-

The Gestapo, in March, 1944, came to her house and arrested Purdy, because, according to them, he was becoming dangerous.