Suspicion having been directed against her,—how is not clearly
known—she was subjected to espionage and in consequence she was
arrested August 15, 1915, and thrown into prison at St. Giles. This did
not cause her any apprehension as she anticipated no more than a short
imprisonment. She did not imagine, in fact, no one dreamed that the
German authorities would with premeditation shoot a woman for pitying
and showing mercy to the helpless.
Mr. Brand Whitlock, the American Minister to Belgium, who at that time
represented (and until the United States entered the war continued
to represent) British interests in Belgium, felt an intense sympathy
with Miss Cavell and at once took up the matter of securing for her
a fair and proper trial. He wrote a letter to Baron von der Lancken,
the German Civil Governor of Belgium, stating that he had been urged
by telegraph to take charge of the defense and requested that Mr.
de Leval, councilor for the American Embassy, be allowed to see and
confer with Miss Cavell. This letter was not answered. Mr. Whitlock
again wrote more urgently. None too promptly the German Civil Governor
finally made reply, refusing to permit anyone to see Miss Cavell as the
Department of the Governor General “as a matter of principle does not
allow an accused person to have any interviews whatever,” stating also
that Miss Cavell had confessed her guilt and that her defense would be
conducted by Mr. Braun.