Before the old Bailey
On 4 November -
the number,
Seen as average amount
For an autumn
trial.
A first for many
years
Were the cases
that proved,
Less serious than
murder charges.
The sessions did
include,
One of
manslaughter
Four of bigamy,
two of perjury
One of libel and
one concerning
Information being
given to an
Enemy; involving
a hairdresser
Karl Gustav
Ernst.
Ages 43, Mr
Ernst,
Of Caledonian Road
Was charged of
conspiring
With the master
Spy,
Steinhauser of Berlin
Was one of a ring
of spies -
To include Armgaard
Karl Graves,
Heinrich Grosse, Frederick
Augustus,
George Charles
Parrott,
William Klare F.
Ireland,
Gould Schrodder,
along with others,
Then unknown.
This spy ring had
set out
To gain much
information
Regarding
armaments and all
Movements with
the dispositions,
Of ships of the
Royal Navy -
Such knowledge
would prove
Useful to the
German enemy.
In the charges,
stated to the jury,
Sir Forrest
Fulton KC,
Said that Ernst
had been
Under suspicion
since 1912.
All correspondence
for the accused,
Since that time,
had been opened
By the Post
Office - when,
By order of Secretary
of State,
The contents were
carefully copied.
By this process,
it was clear
That Ernst stood
at the centre
Of an Espionage
system,
For the German
Government.
Such gathered
evidence,
Suggested
Germany’s intentions -
Dating back even
before 1912.
Mr Asquith
referred to 1912,
When the British
Government,
Had been invited
to unconditional
Neutrality -
That in this position
- no attack
Would be made on
this country.
On Arrest, Ernst
moved
From his
statement
Of knowing nothing
- to great
Regret, for his
involvement,
In any such
affairs.
Adding to this he
had given
Up spying, at
start of 1914.
The Court
Recorder stated,
An intolerable
situation.
Further to inform
the jury,
That the official
Secrets Act,
Allows authorities
To deal with such
offences -
That it would be
the courts duty
To find a ‘bill
against him.’
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Naval
Secrets – Spy Case at Old Bailey –Centre of Espionage. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 11 Nov. p.3. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11214348/Daily-Telegraph-November-11-1914.html
[Accessed: 11 November 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago -
Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 11 November
2014).
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