Edinburgh Evening News (Edinburgh) \u201320 November 1912<\/p>\n
ALLEGED COMMUNICATION OF NAVAL SECRETS. CHARGE AGAINST AN EX-NAVY MAN.<\/p>\n
The grave allegations against the ex-Naval gunner, George Charles Parrott, of Jaer Street, Park Road, Battersea, were further investigated before Mr Francis at Westminster Police Court today.<\/p>\n
The charge is one of having communicated official information in a manner prejudicial to the safety and interests of the State, and in contravention of the Official Secrets Act of 1911. As outlined on Monday by Mr. Bodkin, the case against the prisoner is that on Saturday, July 13th, of this year, having first obtained leave from his ship, H.M.S. Pembroke, at Sheerness, he left for Dover, crossed the Channel to Ostend, observation being kept upon him meanwhile, and was joined at Ostend by a foreigner. He returned to England the same night, and next day was at Sheerness in uniform. On August 14 he was removed from the Navy List. Parrott was arrested on Saturday night at a tobacconist\u2019s shop in Chelsea, where a letter which had been handed to him was found to contain two \u00a35 bank-notes and a request that the recipient should leave London, and make inquiries with regard to the movement of the fleet. The court was crowded when the proceedings were resumed. Mr A. H. Bodkin prosecuted, and Mr V. Dimmer represented accused.<\/p>\n
POLICE INSPECTOR\u2019S STORY. Inspector Riley, who, with Inspector Parker, arrested the prisoner, was recalled, and produced the fiat of the Attorney-General authorizing the prosecution. Among the articles found at prisoner\u2019s lodging, said witness, was a return ticket from Grimsby Dock, two insurance policies, one in the name of \u201cA. Couch, 17 Padget Street, Gillingham,\u201d six picture postcards, and a draft letter to the Commodore. The Magistrate asked Mr Dimmer, defending, whether there was any mystery about the fiat which had been produced. Mr Dimmer replied, \u201cNo sir; not now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Dimmer, cross-examining: Did you find among the articles any plans of documents relating to the British Navy? \u2013I did not. Any models of ships or fortifications? \u2013No, sir. There was a picture postcard. Who was it addressed to? Mrs. G. C. Parrott. Witness added that there was a postcard of H.M.S. Vincent. Mr Dimmer: Did you find any naval documents at all? A. \u2013Only certificates regarding his service. Are the picture postcards of such a nature that they can be purchased at any shop? \u2013Yes, at a seaport town. Everyone has a halfpenny stamp on? \u2013Yes.<\/p>\n
Mr F. F. Hallamby, clerk in the Account-General\u2019s department of the Post Office, produced an original telegraphic message, handed in at Sittingbourne, on July 11th. It was a foreign telegram form, with the name of a foreign addressee.<\/p>\n
Detective-Inspector Gray, Metropolitan Police, attached to Chatham and Sheerness Dockyards, said that on July 13thlast he saw the prisoner in a secondclass carriage of a train going to Sittingbourne. A lady was apparently travelling with him, but at Sittingbourne Parrott got into the Dover train alone. He alighted at Dover Priory Station, and after making a tour through the town, went to the offices of the Belgian Steamship Company, and thence to the Admiralty Pier. Witness spoke to the prisoner on the jetty, and asked him his name. Prisoner replied \u201cParrott,\u201d and said that he lived at Chatham. Witness asked what he was, and prisoner replied a civilian. Witness questioned him about the contents of a small hand-bag he was carrying, and prisoner was about to open it. Witness took him to an office and searched. On a piece of paper in a cardcase he found a typed address which prisoner said was that of a lady friend. Witness pointed out that it was a man\u2019s name, and Parrott thereupon replied, \u201cOh that is a nom de plume which she wrote to me in.\u201d Prisoner added: \u201cIs it on account of the lady that you are searching me?\u201d Witness replied that he was making the search under the Public Stores Act. \u201cI do not mind,\u201d said the prisoner, adding, \u201cI have an appointment.\u201d A LADY FRIEND. \u201cI am going to meet the lady at eight o\u2019clock tonight at Ostend.\u201d Witness continued the search, and found a naval signal form, with a message in it addressed to Mr Parrott. He said to the prisoner, \u201cI see you are in the Navy,\u201d Prisoner admitted that he was a gunner, and said, \u201cI hope you wont\u2019 tell my wife anything about the woman.\u201d Witness asked if the prisoner had any right to leave the county, and Parrott replied that he knew of no order prohibiting it. Prisoner left Dover by the Ostend boat at 4.40.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Edinburgh Evening News (Edinburgh) \u201320 November 1912 ALLEGED COMMUNICATION OF NAVAL SECRETS. CHARGE AGAINST AN EX-NAVY MAN. The grave allegations against the ex-Naval gunner, George Charles Parrott, of Jaer Street, Park Road, Battersea, were further investigated before Mr Francis at Westminster Police Court today. The charge is one of having communicated official information in a …<\/p>\n