Defence Council goes to Old Bailey for Espionage trial . The trial of Dr Hermann Goertz , aged 44 , a German lawyer and novelist , on charges of alleged espionage , has opened at the Old Bailey , London , before Mr Justice Greaves Lord . This is the first spy trial in Britain since the war . The charges against Dr Gortz are of making a sketch , plan or note of Manston Royal Airforce Station , Kent , which might be useful to an enemy , and conspiring with Marianne Emig , a young German woman , to commit offences against the Official Secrets Acts , 19 11 and 1920 . Dr Gortz , who had a bungalow in Stanley Road , Broadstairs ( Kent ) , was arrested when he landed at Harwich on November 8 . Marianne Emig is now in Germany . Photo shows Mr BP Croom Johnson , King ' s Counsel and Member of Parliament who is defending Dr Gortz , on his way to the Old Bailey . 4 March 1936