The
original can be seen at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15679088
With varied spy trials gone before,
Came another that went on for some
Time - the events surrounded arrival
Of Anton Kuepferle - who was to say
He was Swiss and naturalised
American travelling from New York.
On14 February 1915 Kuepferle
Travelled onto Dublin then
London -
The reason he would provide
was
Purely business - his story
to say
His trade was wool importer,
Based back in Brooklyn New
York.
While travelling to Ireland
and
England he had posted
business
Letters - addressed to a
neutral
Country on the continent -
what
Had given him away was
Interception of a postal
censor.
The letters had been
investigated
And found between written English
Lines were other lines in
German,
Written in invisible ink -
descriptions
Were of British ships along
with
Certain movements of allied
troops.
An arrest was made within
five
Days on 19 February, by DI
Buckley.
The passport Kuepferle held
was
From New York, as he swore
travel
Was purely commercial based -
Kuepferle was to be put on
spy trial.
With his valise searched on
arrest,
Was found to contain elements
For creating invisible
writing, along
With the same paper type as
letters
Stopped - Kuepferle in
military
Custody was held at London
Tower.
Kuepferle was moved to
Brixton
In favour of a civil court -
during
Times of exercise, he
interacted
With another German - a
letter
Found on Kuepferle intended
To be passed onto that
prisoner.
Written down were references
To war acts - the German uses
Of gas and how Kuepferle
wished
To be at the front again -
contents
Were obviously by a soldier,
Not a commercial business
man.
In intentions to pass information
Useful to any enemy, of naval
Manoeuvres, Kuepferle charged
Under the Defence of the
Realm,
Act - On Tuesday saw public
Hearing - Wednesday in
secrecy.
The reason being for all interests
Of National safety - the trial was
Under a Civil Court, but Kuepferle
Was fearful of an outcome of death.
Inspections of his cell confinement
Were carried out every 15 minutes.
Within this time space Kuepferle
Wrote a message on a slate, then
Tied a scarf to a grill he stood on
A library book - with the other end
About his neck, he kicked book
Away - he could not be revived.
Kuepferle's last words said trial
Had been carried out fairly - all
He had done was for his country -
But could no longer take strains.
His ideal to be shot as a soldier
of rank, not to meet a spy's death;
So he took life by his own hand.
of rank, not to meet a spy's death;
So he took life by his own hand.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Dramatic End to Spy Trial. The Daily
Telegraph, [online]
21
May. P.9. Col.7. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11608898/Daily-Telegraph-May-21-1915.html
[Accessed: 22 May 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 22 May 2015).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11608898/Daily-Telegraph-May-21-1915.html
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Spies
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