Aberdeen Combworks Secret.
Prying Chemist Fined.
Foreign Countries after Process.

Mention of efforts by a foreign country and others to secure by hook or by crook the secret processes used by the Aberdeen Combworks Co., Ltd, for treating raw material, was made at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Saturday, when William Barry, chemist, Shelley House, 102 Oakley Street, Chelsea, London, pleaded guilty, before Sheriff Laing, to having, between June 8 and August 1 last, while employed as a scientific chemist by the Aberdeen Combworks Co., Ltd., Corruptly offered a sum of 10 shillings to William Finnie, caretaker of the company’s branch factory at Berryden Road, where secret scientific processes connected with the preparation of the raw material used in the manufacturer of combs and other articles were carried on, with a view to gaining admission to the factory, where, by his scientific knowledge, he might have discovered such secret processes.

Mr Thomas Maclennan, the procurator fiscal, said that accused was 46 years of age. in December last he applied to Sir James Adam, registrar of joint stock companies in Edinburgh, for the names of the directors of the Aberdeen Combworks company, and was supplied with all the details. There was no earthly explanation as to why he should be prying into the affairs of the company. On April 14 he wrote to the managing director of the company in the following terms –

I pray you will pardon my troubling you with this, but I say my name before your consideration in the event of a possibility of employment as works chemist. At present I am, and have been for several years, laboratory manager and chief chemist to one of the largest producers after the German. I guarantee that I can place at your service knowledge that will prove of the greatest advantage among many other matters, full details of the manufacturer of Jade, tortoise-shells, mosaics of many kinds, mother-of-pearl, buff horns, utilisation of waste etc.

Suspicions Aroused.
After interviews, the directors decided to take him on at a salary of £360 a year, with gradual rises. Very soon after accused had been provided with a room in the company’s premises in Hutcheon Street, Colonel Stewart, the managing director, saw he was not possessed of the knowledge that was expected of him. He also became suspicious that the man was there probably with a view to endeavouring to ascertain some of the very valuable secret processes of manufacture of which the Aberdeen Combworks Company were possessed.

He (the fiscal) was told by the police that before now efforts had been made to obtain possession of these secrets by hook or by crook. They did not think that the parties endeavouring to secure these secrets had been successful. Colonel Stewart became so suspicious that he forbade accused to enter the Berryden Works. A foreign country had endeavoured to get at these secrets.

On July 7, Colonel Stewart told accused that their agreement terminated in one month, the engagement allowing for a month’s notice on either side. On August 1 comma accused had an interview with Colonel Stewart about the management terminating his agreement, and said “You need not bother; I am prepared to give in a written resignation,” and this he did.

What Caretaker Did.
The next day, a Sunday, accused went to the Berryden Road Works, to which he had been forbidden access, and got inside the grounds. He went to the house of the caretaker, who told him that no person was allowed to enter the premises without a written permission, and that there was a notice to that effect exhibited in the Works. The caretaker, describing the incident, said that accused answered the description of the man who was supposed to have come from Germany. Accused said he would like to see through the premises, adding “You can easily let me see through them.” On being refused, he took a 10 shilling note from his pocket and said, “Would that be of any use to you?” The caretaker said he would not show him through the works for £100. It would cost him his job. Finnie asked his name, and accused replied that it was Anderson. The caretaker then ran and locked the door, so that Barry could not get out, and telephoned for the police. To the Constable who arrived shortly afterwards, accused said that he lived at The Manse, Balnagask Road. Finnie said he did not know accused had been employed at the Hutcheon Street Works.

There was an effort made by some foreign country to get hold of one or more of these secret processes, and, of course, when one had valuable secrets of that kind, he (the Fiscal) supposed one was more or less suspicious of everybody who had scientific knowledge. Colonel Stewart warned the caretaker not to admit that man.

Accused’s Explanation.
Mr A. T. T. Whitehouse, advocate, for the accused, said that his client had over 20 years experience as an analytical chemist, and before he was employed by the Combworks Company he was working in a large factory in the West of England. During the 2 months he was with Colonel Stewart’s firm he was employed on chemical work with particular reference to the installation of a laboratory.

He supplied Colonel Stewart with information as to the procedure adopted in a company in England. At the end of about three weeks the accused thought that Colonel Stewart was getting dissatisfied with him, and, accordingly, he gave in his notice.

During the time he was with Colonel Stewart he was never definitely told that he could not go near the Berryden Works. His noticed expired on 1st August, and the following day, while he was affected by an attack of malaria acquired while working in South Africa, he went for a walk in the forenoon.

Passing the Berryden Works he happened to see the Combworks sign, and entered by an unlocked gate. There was no notice forbidding admission or threatening trespassers with prosecution. He asked for the caretaker, who informed him that he could not see into the works. He then very stupidly produced a 10 shilling note, and, when the caretaker refused to take it, he was about to leave the works when the man locked the gate.

The reason he gave erroneous information to the police was that he was in a panic and was suffering from fever and had no idea that the offering of the money would lead to a prosecution.

Sheriff’s view.
Sheriff Laing – why did he want to see this works at all?

Mr Whitehouse – He just wanted to have a look at them before returning to London.

The Sheriff – Why did he not ask Colonel Stewart?

Mr Whitehouse – He did not know it was necessary to obtain written permission.

The Sheriff, after examining a number of references and testimonials submitted on behalf of the accused, said that if the information contained in them was correct it put a somewhat different complexion on the case. Judging from them, the accused seemed to have a wide experience as a scientific chemist and to be acquainted with some influential people. On the other hand, if they were incorrect it gave matters a more serious aspect.

The Fiscal said that the accused had only 15 shillings in his possession when he offered the 10 shillings treasury note to Finnie, and no man would part with two-thirds of all he possessed without a purpose. Colonel Stewart was absolutely convinced that the accused was after the manufacturing secrets.

Sheriff Laing said he was willing to assume that the information contained in the documents with regards to the accused training and work was correct, but he was afraid it was clear the accused was anxious to obtain information with regards to the secret processes of manufacture in the Berryden Works. For what purpose it was difficult to say, but it was not only a dishonest action, but one that one would not have expected a man of accused’s position to perpetrate. If he had accomplished his object the consequences to the firm and the caretaker might have been serious. In the whole circumstances, he could see his way to give her the option of a fine, but it must be a substantial one – £25, with the alternative of three months’ imprisonment.

 

Source : August 1925 press article