“SOLD HIS COUNTRY”

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 75, 22 March 1933, Page 7

“SOLD HIS COUNTRY”

Alleges the Prosecution TRIAL OF ARMY OFFICER CLERGYMAN’S PUBLIC PROTEST By Telegraph—Copyright —Press Assn. LONDON, March 20. Lieutenant Baillie Stewart, aged 24, was taken to territorial headquarters at Chelsea, where a Court Martial opened publicly under the presidency of Major-General Dugan. The proceedings will probably last four days and will be partially in camera. Stewart is the first officer to be eourt-mar-tialled since the war under the Official Secrets Act. He wore the Seaforth Highlanders’ kilt and uniform without sword or belt. Proceedings were about to commence when a clergyman rose in the body of the hall and cried: “I protest in the name of Jehovah against this young man being committed to the Tower.” He was immediately ejected. Details of the accusation wore made public for the first time when Stewart was charged that at Berlin and elsewhere between August. 1 and August 20, 1932, in association with X (a German who was named) he made note of the following matters: (1) The organisation of tanks and ormoured car equipment; (2) the extent of automatic rifle equipment; (3) the organisation Of the brigade of tanks, this being an act preparatory to obtaining information which might ho useful to the enemy.

Altogether there are ton charges referring to journeys and events between Tulv and November, including allegations of having obtained near Aidershot information which might, bo useful to the enemy; having arranged a meeting in Holland with Otto Waldemar Obst. of Berlin, which was preparatory to communicating information prejudieal to the State’s interests. The charges mostly refer to tanks, armoured cars and automatic rifles. Stewart pleaded not guilty. The Prosecution Major Shapeott, prosecutor, read a letter signed “Marie Louise” and addressed to Stewart from Berlin, dated November 12, 1932. referring to “the nice days spent together in Berlin last summer,” and announcing that the writer’s father had altered his mind regarding the writer and she was continuing her study, enabling part payment of her debt. The writer enclosed ten £5 notes. Major Shapeott said that the accused’s banking account showed that ho had lent nobody £5O and the accused denied having lent tho money. ‘‘l am not mincing words,” said the prosecutor. “The prosecution contends that Stewart sold his country for £5O and some more.” Major Shapeott read a. second letter addressed to Obst, who is suspected of being a foreign agent, and signed “Alphonsie Poiret,” it being dated November 26, expressing thanks for settlement’ of the debt and suggesting the use of smaller seals as a large one was apt to arouse curiosity. Major Shapeott read a third letter signed “Marie Louise,’’ inviting Stewart to visit Berlin and enclosing £4O. Major Shapeott added that Stewart told the officer deputed to question him that tho affair would bo misconstrued. Marie Louise, he'said, sent the letter in consequence of a love affair. The only description of Marie Louise that Stewart could supply was that she was 22 and they had made love by a. lake. Stewart wrote to Obst in January disclosing his acquaintance with him and Marie Louise, and this resulted in the authorities believing that Obst -was connected with intelligence activities, which placed Stewart in a “terrible position.” He therefore severed connection with them, sending his love to Marie Louise and revealing that, his name was not Poiret.

Major Shapeott commented that Stewart did not ask them for help and neither had helped him. Among Stewart’s kit was a German military address, also an invitation to a sporting exhibition at Berlin with words underlined, indicating information which tho foreign agent desired regarding tanks and automatic rifles. There was also a picture of a “swimming tank,” an enlarged photograph of a tank borrowed from a tank officer, also a borrowed text book regarding the training of tank battalions and entered in a notebook, apparently for reference, tho names of officers of tank corps where Stewart had inspected tanks when he was especially interested in sixteentonners that were in tho experimental stage. Suspicious Facts Major Shapeott described the various

text-books that Stewart had borrowed, including a secret one dealing with modern . formations. The £9O that Stewart received consisted entirely of bank notes, which it was then impossigle for any private person in Germany to despatch to England. Lieut.-Colonel Sims, of the AdjutantGeneral’s office said that under instructions he asked Stewart at Aidershot in January to explain why he had stayed at a Berlin hotel, sought contact with tho German intelligence service and was interviewed by a German officer at the hotel. He acknowledged using apparently code names in connection with remittances from ; Germany. Stewart, after repeatedly requesting time to explain, said that a girl lyitht/whom he had had a liaison in Berliii h4«l sent the money. He did not know Obst’s profession. Rtcwart denied contact with the German intelligence service or interviewing a German officer. The case was adjourned.