London, May 19.
"The thing you stole and sold was a plan, the possession of which might, in the event of a war between this country and Germany have enabled them fo bomb and destroy a factory, and the lives of your fellew-workers," declared Mr. Justice Stable today, sentencing James Kelly to ten years penal servitude on conviction for espionage.
Kelly, a 30 year-old bricklayer, was committed for trial at Chorley, Lancashire, on April 19 in connection with the disappearance of confidential plans from the Royal Ordnance Factory.
German Secret Service agents were alleged to have purchased the plans for £30. Kelly pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Judge pointed out that "in another, two men were executed recently far the same offence."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.