Mr Bodkin explained that Ireland of the Foxhound was a nephew of a man named Kruger, who took the name of Ireland when he joined the Navy.
Another letter addressed to the prisoner from Potsdam, and dated February 11, 1912, contained the following:
“Many thanks for your valuable letter. In future it will be done so. Do you also desire that the letters I send you be sent ‘care of’? Please reply to me as to this. Please deliver at once enclosed letter addressed to Kronan. Expenses please charge. Best greetings.—St.”
A letter sent to the prisoner for reposting was addressed to “H. Graves, Esq, B.M., B.Sc., 23, Craiglea Drive, Morningside, Edinburgh,” and in this were three five-pound Bank of England notes. On March 7, 1912, Steinhauer signed his name in full, and enclosed 100 marks, requesting Ernst to obtain for him a copy of a London daily paper, which contained a detailed article on espionage, published a little time before the close of the Stewart espionage case. Copies of the letters sent through Ernst to “Mrs Parrott, Alexandra Road, Sheerness,” and to “H. Graves,” at Edinburgh and later at Glasgow, were put in as evidence, but these were not read in court. One of Graves’s letters was enclosed in an envelope which bore the name of a well-known firm of chemical and drug manufacturers, as detailed in the evidence at the trial of Graves. Mr Bodkin, commenting on this, said that the envelope was probably stolen.
On March 23 “St.” (Steinhauer) wrote from Potsdam to Ernst: “K. has excited himself for nothing. The youth is free. I will tell you the story orally next time.” Mr Bodkin remarked, by way of explanation, that the youth Ireland had been discharged.
Another letter addressed to Mr Graves, at the Central Hotel, Glasgow, dated April 9, 1912, and forwarded through Ernst, contained bank-notes for 15 pounds—this was very nearly the last letter ever sent to Graves, judging from the time of his arrest and trial. On March 2 a letter from Potsdam contained a request for the prisoner to inquire whether a certain person living near Hyde Park was a busy man, and whether he was connected with the English Government. Then, in July of 1912, “St.” must have grown suspicious of the correspondence having been examined, for he wrote: “There is another point that I wish to impress on you, and that is, always to post registered letters in different post offices or districts. But you do that probably on your own accord.” Yet again, in a letter dated September 1, from Potsdam, Steinhauer emphasised the need for caution. “You can imagine,” he wrote, “for yourself that we need in all directions only good, sure, and trustworthy people. We must be safe from surprises on the part of the women. Will you take another name instead of Walters?”
Evidence of another travelling spy was afforded by letters addressed to “F. Gould, Queen Charlotte Hotel, Rochester,” and to “Charles Graham, care of Mr Gould,” at the same address. The one directly addressed contained two five-pound notes, and the “care of” letter contained three of these.
So far, the evidence had concerned letters addressed to Ernst, and then the witness went on to tell of the letters sent by Ernst to Steinhauer. Witness had from time to time opened these letters, acting under his official instructions, and had found they were posted in London to Mrs or Miss Reimers, care of Steinhauer, at a Potsdam address. They were all in handwriting which he recognised as that of the prisoner, when given the opportunity of comparing the writing, and were variously signed “G.E.,” “W. Weller,” and “J. Walters.” Certain extracts from these letters were read in court by Mr Bodkin, and the following passages may be quoted:
“Dear Mr Steinhauer,—Allow me to make a few suggestions which came into my head while reading the case of Grosse. You will be able to see that your agent Grosse had not the slightest consideration for your other agents. No more could be expected from a man who has already done ten years’ penal servitude. Therefore, I beg that when you give any one my address, you give a different name, such as W. Weller.
“I have immediately posted both letters. (To Schutte and Ireland.) Herewith enclosed two sample letters. I should also like to mention that the papers are making a gigantic row respecting the Stewart affair. To-day several papers had the interview and confession which he has made. W. Weller.”