WOMAN SPY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 10

WOMAN SPY

PORTSMOUTH CASE ASSISTING THE ENEMY HEAVY SENTENCE IMPOSED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, July 2 Charged under the Official Secrets Act, Mrs. Marie Louisa Augusta Ingram was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiring to contravene the Defence Regulations, and committing an act with intent to assist the enemy. She was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. She was found not guilty of conspiring to obtain blueprints. William Swift was found guilty of conspiracy, ' Communicating with Mrs. Ingram, inciting a Royal Tank Corps corporal to join the Local Defence Volunteer Service in order to obtain arms for the protection of invaders and endeavouring to cause disaffection in the King's services. Ho was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment. Archibald Watts was found not guilty on all counts.

Mrs. lseult Gonne Stuart, who was arrested at the same time as Stephen Carrol Held, a company director, sentenced at the Dublin Court on Juno 26 under the Emergency Powers Act, has been found not guilty and discharged. It was alleged that among a number of suspicious articles found in Held's house were maps, a wireless transmitter and telegraphic tapper. A parachute was also discovered.

COURT HEARING DETAILS OF CHARGES MEN AS ACCOMPLICES "OSWALD MOSLEY WILL RULE" [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON, June 7 A woman who was stated to be tbe wife of a Royal Air Force sergeant, and the sister-in-law of a staff officer serving in the German High Command, was one of three persons resident in Southsea, charged at Portsmouth under the Defence Regulations. The woman was alleged to have tried to obtain information about tanks, and two men were accused of trying to help her. One of the men was described as local secretary of the British Union. The woman was said to have been born in Germany of German parents and to have expressed hatred of Britain. Prosecuting counsel . stated th'at if the alleged offences had taken place a week later the accused would have appeared on charges the punishment for which was death.

The accused were: —Marie Louisa Augusta Ingram, aged 42; "William Swift, aged 57, assistant storeman in His Majesty's Dockyards) and Archibald Watts, aged 40.

Servant of Naval Officer

Mr. G. P. Paling, prosecuting, that Mrs. Ingram had been empToyed in a domestic post by a senior naval officer who was engaged on important work for the Admiralty. A painter and decorator named Rashleigh went to work at Ingram's place of employment, and in conversations with him she displayed hatred of Britain and expressed sentimsnts which were quite clearly pro-German. Ingram urged Rashleigh to join the British Union of Fascists. On her instructions he went to Watts' home, which was the local headquarters of the British Union, and was enrolled as a member and given some literature by Watts, who was local secretary to the British Union. On May 13, Mrs. Ingram revealed to Rashleigh that she had a

P>rother-in-law who "was a staff officer in the German High Command. Tank Corps Friend

"She said that she corresponded with him and could get anything through to Germany," added Mr. Paling. Rashleigh told Mrs. Ingram he had a friend in the Royal Tank Corps, Corporal Barron. "Mrs. Ingram asked the corporal to get what information he could about the tanks," said Mr. Paling, "and to get blueprints and designs. She added that any information he could get she would be able to pass through to Germany." j On May 20, Inspector Womb well and other officers searched Mrs. Ingram's house and there found three copies of Action, her British Union membership card, a photograph of Hitler, and two small swastika flags. Fate of Royal Family

Rashleigh stated in evidence that Mrs. Ingram told him on May 18 that three weeks from that date England would be invaded by Germany. Then the Royal Family and Cabinet members would be publicly executed, and a government would be set up under the leadership of Oswald Mosley and would get its instructions from Berlin.

Swift snid to Mm: "This Government has played right into the hands of our party. By enrolling in the Local Defence Corps you can obtain arms and ammunition." Swift told him that the arms and ammunition were to protect parachute troops when they invaded England. Rashleigh said ho actually enrolled in the Local Defence Volunteers.