THIS DAY @ LAW

First German spy convicted for World War I espionage in the US

On August 16, 1918, Lothar Witzke was convicted of espionage by a military commission sitting at Ft. Sam Houston, becoming the the first German spy convicted by the United States in World War I. Witzke was sentenced to hang, but President Wilson commuted the sentence on May 27, 1920. In 1922 Witzke was pardoned by President Coolidge and deported to Berlin.
Learn more about the Mare Island sabotage.

Cyprus gains independence

On August 16, 1960, Cyprus became independent of the United Kingdom. In May 2004, Cyprus became a member of the European Union.
Read the constitution of Cyprus.