SPIES’LAST WORDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1919, Page 2

SPIES’LAST WORDS

? . * FULL STORY OF GRIM JUSTICE LN LONDON. EYES ROUND' BY LOVER’S HANDEERUHiEiF. Whatever Germany may have anticipated from her famous system of espionage during the war, there can be no hesitation in. saying that so- far as England was concerned the result,, never fulfilled expectations, says ’the Weekly Despatch, “Bpy mania” afflicts every nation m time of war, but the exaggerated rumours which spread like wildfire throughout England in the latter e n d of 1914 had little or no substance in fact. At, that time Germany hardly realised the military importance of the British Empire, and devoted the greater, number of her spies, both male and female, to the more pressing problem of France and Russia. “JR” was the-first spy of importance to be captured in this country. Hia mission was .that, of . endeavouring to ascertain the disposition, of our naval forces; but iix the Naval Intelligence Department he met Hie match. “H” was tried.. by court-martini, as. laid, down by international Jaw, and waa shot a;, the Tower of London in 1914. While the last dread rites were being performed: “H” remained perfectly self •'possessed and, glanced round intelligently while, the stops, were' being fast; ened. When all was complete he leant forward to the assistant provost-mar* shal in charge of the execution and said to him, “Remaps you will not care to shake hands with a spy, but will you do so with a German officer f’ “M,” was the next German spy- to meet- hi*. d.eath, although he did so at Brixton Rrison by;his pyto hand. A poor, cowardly creature,, his death by hanging saved the authorities the trouble of- arranging his execution, which was to have taken place a. few days later, j NEW METHODS. From the time of “iM’s” death Germany became aware that spying on “Stupid Eng|and ; ’ was not the simple process, she fondly imagined; . Alto* “M's” death more elaborate measures, of espionage were devised, and. for that purpose the German Ministers in South America had instructions iq arrange fo? Latin-American “neutrals” to come to England and pick up what, information they could. Ope of the first- to be captured wa» “K ? ” a tali; middle-aged, be-whiskered individual, who. arrested white. po* tog a§, a waiter in a Blackpool hotel: After ‘ hte; trial and Condemnation; he waa ; taken to Brixten Prison and to*. mamed there until the time came for his execution. He was taken to the Tower on June 22, 1915, and while; oh the , way, accompanied by a party ov military police to whom he was handcuffed, the taxicab conveying the party broket down in Upper Thames-street E.G. > It waa lunch time, and the street was crowded with boy* and men Hocking to their midday meal. The leading *oxicaß conveying the A.Jf.M. came back to the scene of the breakdown and remained there until another cab had been procured. It was rather an anxious time fpr. tfte party sitting- inside the disabled cab; no sooner had a passer-by caught sight of the military police with a civilian between them than -the shout; “German spy” went, ringing through Upper .Thames-street. An : enormous crowd soon collected and police assistance was necessary to keep the curiotie: onlookers back as the prisoner and hi* escort changed cab*.

A COWARD’S END. “it” was shot th© following morning at daybreak in the miniature rifle-range at the Tower. He broke down badlv throughout the night and cried incessantly for his wife and children, all forgetful of the evil he had done. Put when led forth to the scene of execution h© recovered himself a little. Before being placed in the chair he insisted on. a solemn fare©; nothing would, satisfy him but that he must shake;; liancU ajj rqund!. B* thanked them for the kindly treatment he had rece«* ed while to. prison, and went to hi* death, if not with courage, at least with a certain- resignation. A more unsavoury kind of German ahenfc was “T,” a Rupwan, 25 years of age. He shared Casement’* fate of being Hanged, the only spy so executed *‘T’s” real crime wa* that ' of hjgh treason,, for as a. Russian he was guilty of betraying an Ally and auffered the’ death; of th,© common felon. A dark little man.,'of ; indifferent physique, he was incarcerated in Wanoawor'h Pri son fi;om tii© ti me . of. Jbis arrest, and gave the impression of being a creature wjth very little of the savoir faire, so essential to th© successful spy. He was hanged m the prison at B a.m. on July 16, 1916, the military authorities, with two stalwart sergeapt-majors a» representatives, acting as the instrument*, of justice.. ’ > It. was on-*-July 69, 1915, that the Tower of London- was Ah© scene of on© of Hie dimmest 'dramas in the whole of its eventful hiatbiy. DU that morning Two German spies, “B”,and “C,” werq executed within 16 atoubes o# each other. 'Both were representative of the type more closely associated with the ®py likely to succeed in ‘obtaining valuable information. 'The. two man had been working .to conjunction with each oilier and it was thoughi. to. he toskeeping with the eternal fitness of things ; that they should die in the same chair from the bullets of the same firing party to the rifle range where their predecte sors had paid the last penalty. “B” was one of the most valuable spy we made. A handsome looking map of. about 30 years of age, six feeA high, he approached very near ly to the arey of fiction in that he re raained absolutely COM from the time of his arrest until his career ended. Takec to Wandsworth Fnson Prison tp. aWait trial, he caneed the authorities much perturbation by his* attempts at suicide. Un on© occasion he nearly succeeded in bleedtog himself to death by forcing few arms through the window of hu pell. The crash of the glas* roused the guard; “ ‘ bleeding profusely, “B” was found standing in Hi© cell, a large hole m the window testifying to his desperate efforts to escape justice, | “B” took his condemnation at the subsequent court-martial very coolly. He give no trouble afterwards and went to his death on July 30 with a calmness . which was not altogether assumed.

A quarter of att hour later “BV* ao* complice, ”0,” waa forth under fluidity escort, and was placed in ‘he chair from which only a few minutes previously the.- dead body of his fellow spy had been removed. “Cf* had treated big captor* with the typical arrogance of the .Prussian officer from the time ;of hi* arrest $ hev exuded insolence to the last. Coming into the rifle-range,, he was smoking a cigarette jand unconcernedly, huffed, at it white, the preparations for ms execution went on. Ordered to seat himself in the fa-'al chair, he took a Mt puff at hi« cigarette, held it, up. in,,his, fin-gete, and then, with a supreme* gtomito ,aa of indifference- and contempt to- .everything the earth might hold, tnrew If upon , the floor and oat. in ; the chair, without;. Miother word. As the straps, fastening his legs .and anus to the chair were being buckled his face momentarily- twitched —-that waa all.-.. -. - Little further time, was, wasted by the military police in charge.. The eyes of the condemned 1 man were tightly bandaged, his chest bared’, to; the cold morning air. The order. to .fire rang out, and with the burnt of flhme.'fjjoWf .eight rifles one of Germany's moil- trust*.' ed spies had terminated his earthly career. ‘ ”B” and “U” were both aristocrats, ''well-educated-men able, to. speak niany languages, and of a type.to-pass muster in any society, 'lhey >were> thoroughly >au faft; with the West End of: tend' their capture anierid to what might; have proved; an etoeedingly ;dan-. gerous state, of affairs. ‘‘Ol’ v ln particular constituted a grave menace to this countryhe had mixed, with many welt -to-do people in London, and undoubtedly acquired. much important knowledge of our naval and military preparation, information, it may, b®H«Md» which: he w«« unafele to get ■ through; to 1 Gejrmnny. * 1 Throughout the war Germany has . doubtless;, employed many .cngkpg-tedkr 'ing specimens of humanity, but :it is doubtful if any more freakish type wa». employed: than “Z,” executed' on September 10, 1915,

: CAUGHT IN THS ACT. “Z” 1 was an elderly man, probably about 60 years of age, sft,. 105n. in height and so cross-eyed fhat the glasses he wore merely the !disfig--1 urement, A slow-speakittgj curiously ,deliberate>type of man,'.;- •: .he• ptobably i gained a certain amount of information owing fto hie utter lack of resemblance to preconceived, potions of a spy. He was caught in the act, and>' like.va, ; 'wise man, made no fuss. HjC took every- j thing .'connected with his court-ipa-tiM. and subsequent condemnation to : death very much as a matter of course. While in Wajtiaftworth Prison he called : -the authorities no trouble whatever, and on being-taken-to the Tower of London. day before hie* execution, merely exhibited: a certain amount of anxiety to know ' where he was going. “You will soon know,” the A.P.M. grimly told him. Like all th© other spies executed: Tat the Tower, “Z” spent his last night on within its time-hallowed precincts. Led forth in the dim grey of a ; September morning, he listened, unmoved Vo the reSding of his “sentence of death. He wore his glasses right up to the time of the bandaging of ijis eyee. ' te® .sergeant-major in charge told him to remove them, he carefully' took • them off, glanced regretfully. - at them, with ; his 1 crosSreyes, and handed, them dyer aiid; went to his death with; great comppßure. Quite one of tue moat* picturesque personalities among tb® captured, spies was “F,” a dapper little Peruvian. A very chirpy individual, ■ only- 4in. in. ■height. “F" came-to England at. the instigation of one or the Germaa;Miuistera in South America, ostensibly, as a commercial, agent,. When a r totte.q he had in his possession a most, elaborate set of false papers, . ■ _ ihnartly dressed, able to mix in good society, he nevertheless proved valueless !P- G^ rma Py> because none of his information gpt Tout 'of the couptxyi He was incarcerated . in Wandsworth Frisop, and' wa ft , token to the Tourer to be, shot oir the ! day follpwing, Septefti' ber 11, 191flC ' 1 1 reasons; co.npected’ with., certain of hig accomphees, the -, sentence was not earned out tor another seven days* ttowever, at daybreak on September :17, 1916, “F” paid the supreme ipenalty> the miniature rifle range- again being the scone of the execution. The- little Peruvian went to his death- with .a fair show of indifference; he walked to the , chair quite bravely, ajid asked the ser-geant-major as a great* favoup not to have his eyes bqndaged nor to be strapped to the chmr. However, His request wis not acceded to.' THE HIRELING.! * “F” provided ratoer, a pathetic . example of the man corrupted l by- Herman gold. . To this day.'onr authorities cmf not imagine why,. h,T.T bould ' r fioed himsefi to Gei;mW'A :spy eysfem. ; other than fof the large sums ef money G ermraiyte Itouth American Miiilstets were offering people Willing to go to England ahd spys ;; “f .” himself had no animosity against this coniitry; hfF acknowledg e d that he : deserved his death. . Another vqry ph|egmattd iindividnal i-r-a trud Teutoh-Awas "O,” on© of (iermauy's professional epiee. He was a* man about 33 years, of age, about stt 6in in height, and of very smart appeasance. This mdn frequented : he West End of London a great deal and was thought,-to. have been the receiver of. intormatioh ftont female accomplices. Be, too, spent the tup® pending fiia execntiOp in, Wancteworth Prison, fropi which he wda'taken on; October 12, 1916. “X” was .Jth© assnmett' name of an extremely dangerous character, . very well-known 1 about Ihe- W®®* l End ot London,* where he was arrested in a famoub resturMif in -company with a. female accomplice, “X” Was a great dandy , and affected the mMiheriems and Haunts df the man abonti town. > To this day his erstwhile acquaintances, (bf whom; he had many, inquire about him, blissfully unaware that the man. was a Germgh spy»:.‘." ■' ' ■ : 1 ; His forte was the acquisition, of naval infdrma : ion, and.-' tor thvj phrpose - he employed women, one of. Whom he iVas dining witht- at the tinio of his artost. He acted-I witfe great bfkvado at Ab lo time, buL m. company: with the woman. was placed- in confinement in Fentpnville Fnson. A apick-ani-spah man, 60 years of agej 6ft 10in in height, with quite a distinguished air, “X” oredted a; v more than pUseing l interest at Wfe: subsequent trial at ihe. Old Bailey* He- was sen tenced to death and his female accom plice to 10 lyeara’.penal, servitude. 'BHE- RELia • On October 26, 1915. ,r X'’ wag -aker iin a. taxicab from, Pentonvilje Prison to. the ToWer to. await his execu iqn. on the morrow. On leaving the condemn-

■Rid celf’he hfliflded to the* military escort hj saiAll, silk handkerchief with' Ywmy. embroidery—doubtless a reliib of Some' pftSt love affair—with the request that It should be fastened over his eyes instead: of the ordinary bandage. “X” took the reading of the sentence af .death very well, but while in the chair collapsed at the las;, morfleht. It is doubtful Whether he did not die of .heart failure .before the bullets, : of the Jtei|lg party' entered his bared' breast. At heart, he was unquestionably an abject coward. The following, day another spy wa» shot. This was “V,” a well-dressed intoabout 40 years-; of age, a thorough | cosmopolitan,: speaking several' lan- ‘ guages, who probably had been in the G|nnan. Secret. Service, for a good many yOars, "V” was only about Off 4in in. s heigjlt, but he was a man of very good appearance, who- wa# only toppto because of his indiscretions with regard to , hisiettem " ■ ,'. VV” .accepted; the. sentences- of death with; completo stoicism, and before A be- • ing placed, ip the chair would, insist oil ; shaking with the party in the ’ rifle range. But > T hen He gave the whole j game away : by saying : "I only did my 1 dpty,* the; samd- ao you are 'doing yours.” ; ■■ ■.;, .. I Rrobfibly .the greatest; coward ofr.all ' ‘TV* the spy;to bo shot. , lie ! wfts a yougj of age, about- ; felt bin in height,, afedof , -very • poor ‘physique, anA.ptorided.a sorry, oxami pio 1 of the corruptive, effects of:-German gold. Throughout, his trial and fmpriI aonmenh ,’lto- acted with; ab|eot lack of ■ courage, , and waa desperately I toxidto’ or dp anything to. save: hill own wretched ;skin. A-man of in* . definable ; nationality,i he spoke i with, ho appreciable/'foreign■..accent, ; I 'lip sentence j the following morning showed th© man { at; his worst. Re went into hysterics, ..ecreahted for hid; wife, and. called: curses | Upon his Maker. While on- the way from the ’ condemned cell to the - miniature J nfle range .some glimmering j thought that hei, might convince ijie |nI exorable instriimefits of . justice off l»s British natipnality. must have sirgok his disordered brain, for he : suddenly . made -a; piMul. attempt to, sing - “T,% : perary.” | Forciply placed;in the choir-he'sirug* gled violently and succeeded; in tearing the bandage from his eyes, , all the time shouting and- screaming; that \God, bad ? deserted hiiu>. : , i'hat hisfiyifa. enopld :be. 1 brought to tem> Mid that he, w»s ; not a: ; German: However>; the- bullete <;oi, tt® ; ■ firifig party,put an end to his mteepafete | life and he died as he had ' lived, a { craven coward,,, a true type of a man w r ho:'had sold everything fop’gold. .