The Washington herald., 1914-09-20
German Seaman Caught Civ
ing Signals to Teuton Ships
on the Thames.
FIND GUNS ON OTHERS
Three Said to Have Had
Homing Pigeons in Their
Possession.
WRITER WILL NOT REGISTER
Capt. Won Herbert Says He Fought
with British in South Africa
Campaign.

London, Sept 19.-The British police
are extraordinarily vigilant now in run
ming down all foreigners, especially Ger
mans, suspected of being spies. Every
day there are in the police courts nu-
merous prisoners, accused of violating
the Sslien laws, especially that providing
Ghat all foreigners in the United King
dom must register their names, resi-
dences and business with the proper au-
thorities. OF course. persons actually
caught red-handed are dealt with by
the military and not the police.
How a German seaman was caught
signaling to German ships informed on
the Thames was described at the Thames
police court. Andrew Killer, aged forty
one, was charged with behaving in a
manner likely to cause harm to the
realm He was staying at the Scandi-
navian Sailors Home, and the previous
night Sergt. Ball saw the accused, who
was at one OF the upper windows at
the home, signaling in the Morse code
TO German vessels.
When he was arrested he said: II
didn't do it" Mr.. Wherefore remand
ed the man with a view to his being
handed over TO the military authorities
Max Zuerbaume. twenty-nine a Ger
man; Jehkin Davies; thirty-fve, a Welsh
man, and Herman Seigerman, forty. a
German, were charged at the Thames
session of revOlvers. cartridges and hon.
ing pigeons, contrary to the order in
council.
II was stated that a visit was PAID to
Davies address in Royal Mint street and
that two revolvers and two hOniing
pigeons were found.
7Seigerman said he asked Mr. Davies TO
mind the pigeons for him. zuerbaume
admitted asking Davies to mind the re-
NOlVaTS aighf rtriduas IL
that what he did was in ignorance.
Inspector said when the two Germans
registered they denied having any wca-
pOns or homing pigeons Mr.. Wherefore
having heard the prisoners were in good
substantial positions, fined each of them
go or three months Imprisonment.
Military Writer VIII Not Register.
Capt +. W. Won Herbert. the we'll
known military writer, and author OF
the Defense of Plevna." was remanded
at Newport isle of Wight, on bail, on
his own recoEnizance, for week, on a
charge OF failing 10 register as an alien
enemy. He declared that he was not a
German, but British having fought for
England in South Africa. He positively
declined 10 register as an alien.
Accused at Sunderland of falsely regis
tering himself as a Russian subject
whereas his discharge papers showed
him to he an Austrian born at Trieste,
Edward Ballard, a sailor, said that hun
drcds of his lOw-Russian countrymen
who went to sea. described themselves
as AUstrians to escape arrest for mill
taUy service when in the Baltic or Black
Sea ports.
Though given the benefit Of the doubt
on that charge. he was fined for journey
ing from Sunderland to Shields without a
permit.
A Belgian and described as an enemy"
was the shocked remark of Mr. Eliot
Howard. the Stratford magistrate, when
Inspector Ellis explained that the police
were satisfied that Louis van der Mae
lin. twenty-three, a waiter. charged with
ing himself as a German, was Belgian.
The officer had seen his birth certificate.
Prisoner was discharged.
See Spies When Drunk.
remand was ordsed at Stratford in
the case Of Humbert Houssell. aged
twenty-four. A German hairdresser of
Church street. Marylebone, charged as a
registered alien travelling beyond five
miles from his registered address. When
arrested at Legion he admitted that het
had no permit 10 travel.
He produced his registration papers
and his photograph that showed that he
had had his beard removed.
The prisoner said that he came over
from France with the beard, and as he
found that it was not the custom to
wear one in England he had it cut OF
Dalston tailors cutter charged at
North London with drunkenness was
said to have called a constable an alleged
German spy.
at is a curious thing how many peo-
pie see spies when they are drunk said
Mr.. Hedderwick. TT all depends on the
sort Of glasses they are looking through
II you are going to spy spies you had
better keep sober, or you will come to
grief"