April 20

The Recorder’s Court at the Old Bailey had today been closed to the general public and members of the Press, the ushers and even the official shorthand writers, while the Grand Jury were addressed in camera.

It was understood that the Grand Jury were charged in connection with a case against two men named Muller and Kahn.

A third, named Kulpferte had also been charged, and a trial bill previously returned against him.

The allegation was that the accused communicated, or endeavoured to communicate naval and military information to the enemy.

It was stated that the prisoners would be tried in the High Court by the Lord Chief Justice on the 27th inst. The trial would be in camera and all taking part would be sworn to secrecy.

50 years ago

Russia’s next five year plan would set new targets for raising living standards, higher wages and more consumer goods, Mr Kosygin, the Prime Minister had promised.

He had told planning officials that the 1966-70 Plan now being worked out, should be drafted to “ensure a more rapid rate of improvement of the peoples living standards.”

Mr Kosygin’s speech at a closed meeting of the State Planning Committee had been reported in the magazine Planned Economy.

He had called for a reversal of two policies championed by Mr Khrushchev – a five-year long virtual wage freeze which kept earnings artificially depressed in favour of social services, and reductions in private car production.

25 years ago

More North Yorkshire women were getting pregnant accidentally because of health scares about the pill and the increased popularity of condoms.

Family planning experts said many women were abandoning the pill without realising that other methods were less reliable. Dr Pat Saxty, family planning co-ordinator in York, said: “The situation is worrying. We feel there has been a significant rise in the number of unplanned pregnancies.”

Dr Saxty said condoms had become popular as a result of anti-AIDS campaigns which had promoted them as a means of “safe sex”.

Women were also giving up the pill as a result of health scares.

The number of abortions undergone by York women was rising, reported Dr Saxty, and the impression was that this was due to increased reliance on barrier methods of birth control, such as condoms and diaphragms. According to Dr Saxty, health scares over the pill had been blown up out of proportion.

Women had lost sight of the fact that the pill also had health benefits, such as a decreased risk of certain cancers. Women were also largely unaware of the risks in using other methods.