HC Deb 09 June 1915 vol 72 c255
42. Sir J. LONSDALE

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the fact that, at the adjourned hearing of the charge against Margaret Henderson Smith of having obtained a detailed drawing of a fuse and of giving information calculated to be of use to the enemy, the chief constable, acting on the instructions of the Director of Prosecutions, did not ask for a committal and the Newcastle magistrates accordingly discharged the accused; and if he will state why the prosecution was abandoned in this case?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir E. Carson)

The evidence against the accused woman consisted of a telegram sent by her and a statement by her (which she afterwards contradicted) that she had stolen the drawing of a fuse from Elswick, where she had been employed. It was found that the telegram was addressed to a fictitious person, and that no such drawing had been taken from Elswick. There was therefore no sufficient evidence to justify a committal for trial.