The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-02
GRILL VILLA AGENT
ON GERMAN PLOTS
L. s. Grand Jurors Pushing
Inquiry Following Arrest
Of Andrew d. MclOy.
MORE LIGHT ON R1NTELEN

Felix Sommerfeld. n villa agent here.
was called az a witness yesterday be-
| fore the Federal Grand Jury which IL
truth In the reports that German agents
have been trying TO embarrass the
United States by fomenting trouble in
Mexico. Other persons. some we'll known.
others obscure, but all well versed In the
state affairs Of the turbulent republic.
will also DO called when the investigat-
ing body resumes Its sessions IN Mon
day.
The present inquiry grew out OF the
arrest on Thursday Of Andrew d. Meloy.
a real estate man and promoter OF Mexi-
can enterprises. who Is charged with
having assisted Franz Rintelen. a Ger
man Government agent. In an unsuccess-
fui attempt to get the latter a fraudulent
American passport.
According to tho latest information.
Rintelen. while in this country, visited
Sommerfeld. This fact was established
by Government agents who followed
Rintelen all the time he was in this
country ostensibly studying trade condi-
lions for his Government. Rintelcn was
so closely Swallowed. II is said. that his
scheme to get AN American passport In
the name OF Edward v. Gates, fell
tIf anu He Was IpTNGu W ran III
the Noordam early in August under the
name Of f.. v. Gasche. having obtained
a Swiss passport. Meloy, his wife and
secretary, Miss Hetty Il. Brophy. sailed
with him and were sent back by the
British authorities at Falmouth. where
Rintelen was put in a detention camp.
Meloy arrived Thursday on the Nieuw
Amsterdam. While the Grand Jurors
are considering the charge that he
antnV,AA 60 ~A labA o..
Rintelen. IL is admitted now that this
phase Of the investigation is entirely
overshadowed by the Inquiry into the
Mexican plot.
Sommerfeld. It is believed. testified be-
fore the Grand Jury on the nature Of his
conversation with Rintelen when the lat
ter visited him. II IL said OH good au-
thoritv that the visit was not repeated
and that Sommerfeld never had any
business transactions thereafter with
Rintclen. Any proposition which Rlntc-
len may have made to Sommerfeld is
thought to have been rejected.
Sommerfeld IL "a German, but has
spent most OF his life In Central America
and Mexico. As IA witness before u
Senate Investigating committee in 1914
he defended the Madern regime and de-
MED that the revolution which brought
the latter into power was financed by
men of affairs In the United States.
Some OF the other witnesses to be
called will also be questioned as to
whether they were visited by Rintelen
during the ~latter's recent s~ojourn In this
country.
Rintelen. according to Information re-
ceived yesterday. Is recognized in Ger
many as a keen student Of economic af-
fairs. When a very young man he was
sent to this country 10 study banking
conditions, and acquitted himself 30 well
on this mission that he "a sent back
here a number OF times TO study trade
conditions. or to make similar researches.
On his last trip. II Is said. his feid was
broadened to a general observation Of
conditions here. and his position became
that of an Independent diplomatic agent
Rint-len holds the ranls OF a Captain
Of marines in Germany. Or his last visit
here he stayed at the New York Yacht
Club. Of which he lie a member. While
travelling. however. he IL supposed to
have assumed the name OF Hansen.
Assistant United States Attorney Ray
mond II. Sarfaty. who Is in charge OF
the Grand Jury Investigation. declined
to give any Information concerning the
Inquiry. II was learned. however. that
Miss Hetty Brophy, Andrew Meloy's
secretary. resumed her testimony at yes
terday's session. Some of the others
called were James Young. a negro mes
senger IN Meloy's Office. at Jj Liberty
street: q. Kelly. head of the passenger
department OF the Holland-America
Line, and "A few other witnesses OF minor
Importance whose testimony was needed
to establish the more technical phases Of
the Governments case.