Sneyd and Mata Hari

Colonel Ralph Sneyd inherited Keele Hall from his father Walter. Although he spent very little time there, especially in his later life when he went to live in the south of England.

He served as a Colonel of the Staffordshire Yeomanry.

During World War 1 he arrested the exotic dancer and courtesan Mata Hari for counter-espionage. It was discovered that Hari was spying for the Germans and was charged for causing the deaths of at least 50,000 men. However, during her trail her lawyer was unable to cross examine any of the witnesses and she was found guilty and executed by firing squad 15 October 1917.