A TRAITOR.
I Greatt Britain is not often betrayed, but a remarkable trial in July last at Devonporfc shows that foreign Powers include her n their schemes for obtaining information by treachery. William Matthews, a signalman on board the Ganges, surrendered himself, and admitted that he had stolen a signalbook of great importance, under promise of a heavy foreign bribe. Before the transact tion was complete, however, his conscience smote him; he destroyed the book* and made a full confession. At' his trial he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to eighteen months' penal servitude and dismissal with disgrace. The sentence would have been much heavier but that the Government thought the production of evidence would be injurious to the public service. , The time of the affair was immediately . previous to the . Spanish-American war, when some Continental Powers were exceedingly anxious to discover the line the British Government had resolved to take.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 6284, 15 September 1898, Page 2
Word Count
151A TRAITOR. Star (Christchurch), Issue 6284, 15 September 1898, Page 2
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