POSED AS SPY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 13

POSED AS SPY

YOUTH AT NAVAL BASE SKETCH PLANS MADE A! WAITER'S ESCAPADE ADMITTED TO PROBATION A story of a young man who made sketch plans of tho Devonport Naval Base was unfolded in the Police Court yesterday when a 20-year-old waiter, Alan Desmond Brennan, appeared before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., charged with being found without lawful excuse on tho enclosed premises of the naval base dockyard on October 31. Detective-Sergeant Nalder prosecuted, and Mr. Allan Moody appeared for accused. Accused came to Auckland from Well- • ington to look for work, said Mr. Nalder. Accused was born in Maisterton of British parents, and for soma years he lived and worked in Wellington. On October 31 ho was seen at 6.115 p.m. by the night watchman at thei naval base sitting on a dinghy by the dockyard beach on the Stanley Bay side of the base. At 9.20 the same nig;ht the watchman saw accused walk tlbrough the main entrance of the dockyard. Plana and Hotes "As he seemed to be in a mentally dazed state, and could give no satisfactory explanation for his presence* there, he was detained in the guai'droom pending the arrival of the policej," said Mr. Nalder. "Subsequent inquiries showed that he went there to sketch plans of the buildings, wharves ;iind oil tanks. During the night he pa:id two visits to the base within three hours. He returned to Auckland with some plans, which he left in tho city, and returned to the base to : take further notes." Visit to Picture Theatre i Some of the j)lans and sketches were found in accused's suitcase at his hotel a few days later, added Mr. Nalder. Brennan had been to a picture theatre that afternoon and saw a trailer about a naval picture. After he had hail some ' spirits and beer he went to the bmse and drew the plans and made various written notes. One sample noto read as follows: "Devonport Naval Base, N.Z. The base would cover about 30 acres of land. It is situated across -the harbour from the city. Rather hard, to ; get in during the day as building is going on in a number of places. At night the best place is by boat. (See plan No. 6). These drawings may not be exact, but further details will be supplied. "T36" and "M2l" "The nearest air force is at Hobsonville, about seven miles by air,: Hope to get up there soon. Am enclosing plan of Wellington's air port. T36 got it last week. Can't contact M2l. Must be cold after the Darwin piece. Send re ?<b o° J iT7®n n ? on ' car 9 Gr.P.O., City." RT £ 1 o anny P lan » from rwFt- says J, n ki" s explanation made to Detective Stevenson that the onlv reason he could think of for goin- to - ' the naval base and sketching; these ifcl 3 T th ß le t cous show off a bit and perhaps trv to impress someone as a Secret Service thfnt'+l 8 • Mr * Nalder. "I do not tninic there is anything more in it." No Master Spy f: At first sight in this case iib would be a horrifying thing to think we had a master spy m our midst," said Mr. Moody. Fortunately, he is not a spy, but merely a foohsh young man. v As far as this youngster is concerned 1 do not think lie, suffers anv delusion now that he is a master spv. I think he saw some picture 'Crime Does ■Not Pay' and has been' reading some ridiculous literature. Though only 20 years old he had been drinking; spirits before going over thgre. I do not think this is crime; it is more stupidity." The magistrate expressed the opinion that if accused were placed on probation he would be under the supervision, of the authorities. His exploit was probably the result' 'of a mad-'brained idea. if "I do not know the authorities think there is anything sinister at out it," said the magistrate. ; Mr. Nalder: No, we are quite satisfied about that.

Accused was admitted to probation for one year, during which time he ig to refrain from taking intoxicating liquor.