SENSATIONAL SPY DRAMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23879, 1 February 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

SENSATIONAL SPY DRAMA

Russian Girl and American Diplomat Pay Penalty

SCENES recalling the famous spy trials of the last war were enacted at the Old Bailey during the eight-day trial of a handsome young diplomat, formerly a clerk in the United States Embassy, and the daughter cf a Russian admiral, who were found guilty of offences und6r the Officja.l Secrets Act.

THE central figures in this temarkable trial or trials, since they were allowed to have their cases heard separately■were: Tyler Gatewood Kent, aged 29, described as a diplomat, son of former United States Consul-llen-eral, and a member of an old Virginian family, whose grandfather •was a prominent politician in t lie days of Lincoln; and Anna Wolkoff, aged 39, described as a dressmaker, a naturalised British subject, daughter of a Russian admiral of Tsarist days. Patient Investigation Kent was found guilty of obtaining and communicating documents which might he of use to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interests of the State. He was sentenced to seven years' penal servitiude. Wolkotf was found guilty on -two counts under the Official Secrets Act, and under the Defence .Regulations of an Act likely to assist the enemy. She was sentenced to 10 years'' penai servitude. Not until the war is ended, and probably not even then, will the full story of this spy trial be told. But it can be revealed now that the arrests of Kent and Wolkoff were the result of close co-operation Britain's Secret Service, and Scotland Yard's Special Branch. Patient investigation by officers of both services led to the conviction of the conspirators. At the Conclusion of the trials and before sentence was passed, the doors of the court were flung open. Senior counsel, barristers, and privileged city

men entered to get a glimpse of the leading actors in the drama .and hear the judge's comments. Kent, a handsome, athletic young man, and Anna WolkolF, who was liatiess and wore a long lur cape over a black frock, had not, spoken to each other once during the long hearing. Nor did they exchange so much as a glance when they were sentenced. It, was revealed that they were caught when Anna tried to send a letter in code to William Joyce, better known us ''Lord Haw-Haw." Although Anna was born in Russia and Kent was at one time at the American Embassy in Moscow, they did not meet until they became members of a London club called "'1 he Right Club." This club, formed by Captain A. H. M. Ramsay, M.l\, in June, 1039, had as a badge an eagle gripping a viper. The viper represented Communism and Jewish blood. Anna, who has made a number of trips to Germany, knows most of the foremost Nazis, in 1939 she met lletilein. ruler of Sudetcnland. She^ was introduced to Kent at a banquet. Their conversation turned to the subject of the Jewish race, and it was then they found they had one common hatred. Judge's Comments In passing sentence on them, Mr. Justice Tucker was scathing in denunciation of their conduct. I o Kent, the judge observed: "The jury has found you guilty of five offences of obtaining and communicating documents which might be of use to an enemy for ft purpose prejudicial to the safety and interests of the State. " They wore highly confidential documents which you took from the American Embassy where you were employed. You have also been found guiltv of stealing one of those documents. I am taking into consideration,

in sentencing yon, one fact in your favour, ami that is that the documents, highly confidential as they were, did not relate to actual naval or military movements. Kent stood with his hands clasped in front of him as he listened to the judge, and remained impassive as he heard his sentence of seven years' penal servitude. Alter Kent had left the dock, Mr. Justice Tucker turned to Anna \Yolkoff and said: "Von have been found guilty on two counts relating to two of the documents which Kent took from the American Embassy. But you have also been found guilty of a still more serious offence, namely, that with intent to assist the enemy you did an act likely to assist the enemy. " Jiy secret means you attempted to send a letter, addressed in code, to one Joyce in Berlin. You, a .Russian subject, in 1935 became a naturalised British subject. At a time when Britain is lighting for her very life and existence, you sent a document to a traitor who broadcasts from Germany for the purpose of weakening our war effort. " It is difficult to imagine a more serious offence. The only useful sentence I can pass is to be n warning to others lest there be others so minded as you." Anna frowned as the judge addressed her, but she too remained calm when she heard her sentence of 10 years' penal servitude.