New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
Now Said to Have Tried to
Involve Dernburg, the
Kaiser's Agent,
ALLIES ESPIONAGE
A MARVELLOUS THING
@. s. Viereok Says He Is Sure
Prisoner Was in Conspiracy
Against Fatherland.

an American passport was rePor'eu W
the United States Secret Service
agents by persons in the service Of the
German Emperor after they said they
had become convinced that he was in
the employ OF the British Secret Ser
vice. was the story told in German
American circles yesterday.
Stegler. according 20 these reports,
not only tried TO involve Captain Rich
ard Boyd. the German Naval At
taeh6, and George Sylvester Niercck,
editor OF "The Fathcrland.' but also
sought 70 get in touch with DR.. Bern
hard DenburG. personal representa-
tive in this country Of the Kaiser In
this he failed, Niereck seeing him only
in the presence OF witnesses and pr.
Dernburg being "out" when Stegler
called at his office. in 1923 Broadway.
Speaking on the matter last night,
German high in the confidence of
Count Won BernstoF said the report
probably had its origin in the fact that
the German government has been
making a most exhaustive inquiry into
lathe charges made against Captain Boy
al I'D, its naval sttache, independent Of
the report made by him to his chief,
the ambassador.
Failed to Involve Dernburg.
This inquiry, which has now been
under way for several days. has, &C
oording TO The Tribune's informant,
ALREADY developed many startling
things When completed II will put
matters IN an entirely different light
than have the stories cmanating from
Stegler.'
Efforts 10 Get a statement from Dr..
Deruburg failed The doctor. since mis-
arrival in this country in the role Of
propagandlst, has steadily refused 20
allow himself 10 be placed in the light
OF anything but q speaker for Ger
many, and for this reason has re-
Trained from taking any part in the
discussion affecting the original pass
port case, as well as Stegler's, though
he has been much sought by reporters
The value TO the Allies. however, Of
anything that might involve Dr. Dern-
burg IN conflict with the laws of the
United States is easily apparent. de-
stroying, as It would at one blow the
prestige which this former Cabinet
minister has enjoyed since he came 10
America and his value 10 his cause
When Stegler was arrested Charles
II. Griffiths, the former Assistant limit
ed States Attorney who is defending
him, declared he had good reasons for
thinking that "the Germans. fearing
Stegler, turned him up to the Secret
Service men, He did not state what
those reasons we're.
Yesterday, when told OF the hackfre
that had been begun on StcrIer. he
said the statement was based on What
stegler had told him; there was moth
ING IN evidence, so far as he knew. "a
sustain the charge. As for StcrIcr
beng IN the employ Of the British Sc
cret Service. he declared such a thing
Was impossible
There is nothing to that" he said;
stegIer was German and knew only
Germans IN this matter"
Stegler, he said. would probablv no
released on bail tomorrow. bonds he
ing furnished by surety company. As
Stegler was supposed to be penuiless
"heh arrested. and as bonding com
panles almost invariably demand TO be
secured against loss on bonds i'm Grim
maj cases, he was asked where the
eompanys surety was to come from.
From Atlanta" said ne; from Mrs
Stcgler's relatives"
"Not a Suitable Person"
Captain Boyd, who went 20 Wash
ington yesterday morning for the week
end, declared on Thursday i'm a care
fully prepared statement that after
seeing SteGler several times and ad-
vancing him Sl7s he received informa-
tion that Convinced him Stegler was
not a suitable person" What this in
H.
fused 20 ss. Nor has he since said
u, though he has intimated that when
the proper time came he would have
something TO say that would cause a
surprise.
This information. IL is now under
stood. reached him about the time that
Stegler, after seeing DR.. Karl A. Fuehr
IN the matter Of work, approached Mr..
Niereck with request that he aid him
in getting a passport.
Not only did Mr. Nicrcck authorize
the use Of his name IN connection with
the investigation now going on, but
he made the fat-footed assertion that
an attempt had been made TO frame
up" Captain Boyd. he further said
that Stegler had sought 10 involve DR..
Hams Heinz Ewers. the German poet.
who for some months past has been
in the United States, engaged in the
Noih ol pibpNkoNua
81 have contendcd from the start"
said Mr.. Viercck, that Stegler was IN
the employ Of some interests who are
anxious 20 discredit the German prop
sgands in this country. The plot was
CleveTly laid. but clumsily executed.
"There is no doubt in my mind that
Stegler Is but a tool OF q cotcrie of
conspirRtors who arc operating in this
country against the German cause. or
course, cannot tell from what source
this apparent conspiracy derived its in
spiration. In due time this point will
be cleared beyond a doubt"
Mr. Viereck denied emphatically that
he had sent Stogler TO an influential
German-American, who, according TO
Stegler's statement, is a party 70 an
extensive conspiracy 10 behalf of Ger
many Stegler said the headquarters
Of this movement are in New York,
under the direction Of Captain Boy-E Ed.
"The fact is" said Mr. Niereck,
"thSt ! gave Stegler an introduction
20 Hams Heinz Ewers, the German au-
thor and poet, who is At present in this
city. DR.. EwerS never WAS and never
viii be an American. He has no con /
nection with the German Embassy, nor
is he in any way connected with the 1
German government II Is true that {
he is a German officer Of reserve, like 2
many Germans who are now in this 1
country. But he is an author and 4
l. 4