South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-25

Of the United States government to-
day and brought TO this city where ne
was lodged in Jail. 1t is allegfed that
Madden had agreed TO allow Stegler
TO use his birth certificate in order
to get United States passport.
NEW YORK. Feb. 25.-Richard
Peter Stegler, native Of Germany.
who had signifed his allegiance to
the United States by taking out his
first citizenship papers. was arrested
Wednesday for obtaining a fraudulent
passport and was committed to the
Tombs.
The evidence obtained by the de-
partment OF justice Wednesday COM
bined with a mass of information
which led TO the arrest of a dozen
others is said to have convinced the
attorney generals office that il has
unearthed a gigantic conspiracy
which involves some Of the highest
officials Of the German government in
this country. Afidavits and docu-
ments are said to show that fraudu-
lent passports have been obtained in
great numbers by Germans and have
been used by them TO travel through
out England as spies in the guise of
American business men.
Papers found on Stegler bear the
signature OF Capt. X. BOy-ed, the nav
al attache of the German embassy and
the personal representative in this
city of Count j. III. Won BernstOrff.
the German ambassador.
Stegler made the astounding state
ment 10 the federal authorities that
Capt. BOy-ed had asked him 10 go TO
England as an American citizen and
locate a fleet of British dreadnaughts
believed to be hiding in St George
channel He was to cable the infOr-
nation to New York whence it was
to be transmitted by wireless to secret
German bases in the north Atlantic.
Acting on Stegler's report German
submarines were 10 make a daring
raid on the British first line of naval
defense.
Turns Over Evidence.
The plan has been thought out to
the incest detail Stegler said and he
was about to take passage on the
Lusitania when his love for the coun-
try of his adoption and the protests
OF his American bride made him sud
denly change his mind. Facing about
he decided to turn over all his evil
dence to the United States authorities.
Stegler frankly confessed that if il
had not been for his wife a beautiful
southern girl. he would have gone
abroad as a German spy.
a remarkable notice Of their we'd
ding appeared in a New York news
paper last December. 1t read as fol-
lows:
"Stegler-Pope; married Monday.
Dec. Z, 1914. at city hall, New York.
Miss Annette Pope of Atlanta. Ga.
TO Richard Peter Stegler of Hanover.
Germany. Miss Pope is a sweet little
southern rose and her husband is a
true son OF the fatherland''
out of this romance has developed
a case of international importance
which the Washington authorities re-
gard as of such delicate character
that no further step is likely to be
taken until Pres't Wilson has made a
personal investigation of every phase
of the matter.
Another Implicated.
When Stegler was arraIgned before
Commissioner HOughtOn he was ac-
companied by Gustav Cook, an eX-
prize fighter of HobOken, also charged
with being implicated in the con-
spiracy TO obtain. n fraudulent pass
port. Cook is alleged 10 have found
a man by the name of Richard Mad
den who agreed TO give Stegler his
birth certificate and thereby permit
Stegler To obtain a passport as Rich
ard Madden. After fulfilling this
part of the bargain Madden is al
legged 10 have disappeared.
For two days Stegler has been in
the custody Of federal officials in the
postOffice building. Before he was
formally arraigned and sent TO the
Tombs he told the following story:
Il am we'll aware Of the fact that
shall suffer for what l say but
nevertheless 1 feel it my duty first as
an American and second as the hus-
band of an American woman. to tell
everything.
81 was born in Germany in the
province Of SILICA So years, ago. Ny
father is q manufacturer in Han
over. Prussia. / was brought up a
Prussian with all THAI that word
means.
AS a young man I went into the
navy and served my time.
GIoried In thc Service.
The discipline was of the severest
sort. bat being a German 1 gloried in
it, Before / left the tatherland L be-
lieved that the German method OF
stamping out a mans individuality
and making him a mere cog in the
great military machine was as sacred
i as the bADAG ana lllaA II was ~ Il y
mans duty 10 surrender himself absO-
/ lutely 10 the will OF his superiors.
When / left the navy l entered the
German mercantile marine and went
forth 10 see the world. / had been
educated in the belief that Germany
was 10 he heir TO the worlds com
merce and that nations like England
we're to be pushed aside. Like many
other young Germans. 1 went from
country TO country for the purpose OF
learning where 1 might begin my new
life more favorably.
Il landed in Boston four years ago
and il was not Ions before 1 became
convinced that the United states VAS
the country OF all countries / decid-
ed 10 become an American citizen and
signified my intention by obtaihlng
my first papers.
Goes Into. Business.
I'm Boston 1 became acquainted
with a Christian Science publication.
Later on a visit 10 New York l found
on opportunity 10 go into business in
this city and became with the keuffle
and Esser company, makers Of engin-
ecring instruments