BEAUTIFUL SPY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

BEAUTIFUL SPY

SWISS GIRL'S TRIAL FRIEND OF FRENCH OFFICERS DRAMATIC SCENES IN COURT Champagne suppers . . . dances at night clubs . . . mysterious visits to French cruisers . . . the alleged betrayal of important naval secrets. These were features of a sensational story told by prosecuting counsel at Brest, when a beautiful Swiss blonde, Lydia Oswald, aged 29, was found guilty by a naval Court-martial of attempted espionage. The Court, which also found that there were extenuating circumstances, passed sentence of nine months' imprisonment. By her special request a hairdresser had been summoned to the maritime prison at Pontanion to prepare her for the trial, for her defenders regarded her charms as their strongest piece of evidence. Before the Court also, guarded by armed gendarmes, stood two handsome young naval officers, Lieutenant Jean de Forceville, her former lover, and sub-Lieutenant ltene Guignard. Accused only of "imprudence," they were acquitted. The accused men were pale and haggard, but Lydia, who wore a brown frock with white collar, smiled confidently at the naval officers comprising the Court. She tried many times to catch the eye of de Forceville, with whom she has declared she was "desperately in love." But de Forceville steadfastly averted his gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on his judges. Immediately after tho opening proceedings the president of the Court-

martial ordered tlie Court to be cleared and the guards drove out everyone except lawyers, officials, and the accused. The Court then proceeded to hear the case in camera. Behind the closed doors tense scenes of drama and pathos alternated throughout the trial. The members of the Court, in their blue uniforms with gold epaulettes, were visibly impressed by the passionate sincerity with which the Swiss girl pleaded her deep love for the young lieutenant. " Although I was sent to worm out naval secrets from impressionable young officers, I never did so! " she cried pathetically. "I fell passionately in love with Lieutenant de Forceville, and tho treachery of my role overcame me. I could not bear to bring ruin and disgrace upon him. His chivalry won my heart." The honourable bearing maintained throughout by the two young officers was profoundly moving. They asked the

Court not to spare its punishment for their imprudences, which they freely recognised. But they proudly proclaimed their passionate loyalty to their country. They would rather die than betray it, they declared. Brother officers gave testimony of affection and esteem for tho accused. De Forcevillo's eyes filled with tears when his captain declared, " Ho was blinded by love. That was his only fault." When Lydia was speaking of de Forceville, he cried, " Jf I loved her once, I don't any more." Lydia was arrested last March when about to board a train for Paris in the company of de Forcevillo. She had been under the observation of counterespionage officers at Toulon and Brest for se\'eral weeks previously. Although she has been sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, she has already served six months' while awaiting trial, and will benefit by good conduct, so she will 6Oon be released.