ESPIONAGE CHARGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8857, 7 October 1914, Page 6

ESPIONAGE CHARGE

SPIES IN BRITISH NAVAL CENTRES. HAIRDRESSER, IN THE DOCK. (Received October 6, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, October 5. In connection with the charge of espionage against Karl Ernst, a hairdresser, evidence was given that the police, by examining the prisoner's correspondence since 1912, discovered that his shop had been used as a place of cSall for letters addressed to spies at Chatham, Sheerness, and other naval centres.

v* A cable message published in the Sydney “Sun" on September 28th stated; Karl Ernst, a hairdresser, of Caledonian road, not far from tho Smithfield Meat 'Market, was, at the Bow street Police Court to-day, charged with espionage. ‘Mr Bodkin, who appeared for the prosecution. said that the prisoner, while detained! in prison, petitioned for his release on tho ground that he was a British subject. Ernst concluded by saying that "if I am sent to Germany X shall be arrested os an English spy. Thus it will he a case of out of the fry-ing-pan into the fire." Inquiries confirmed his statement that he was a British subject under surveillance from October last. Ernst, continued Mr Bodkin, was employed by a man named' Steinbaeur who has figured in every espionage cnee during the last four years. Accused’s shop was kept under observation, and it was shown that he had received a number of letters from Potsdam, which he distributed to German spies at Chatham, Sheerness and other places. Accused was remanded.