The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-03
Van Horn Claims He Cannot
Be Extradited by the
Canadian Officials
HE is DETAINED,
NOT ARRESTED
Regrets That He Did Not Destroy
Bridge at International Boundary
and Says He Obtained Dynamite
from Confederate on Canadian Side


VANCEBORO, Me-, Feb. 3. - The
Dominion authorities were engaged to-
day in building up a case to support
their request for extradition of Werner
Van Horn, who yesterday attempted
the destruction of the international
| bridge over the ST. Croix river
| Before noon a large party Of secret
| service officers arrived here from Mont
| real and at once set to work to discoy-
/ er every known circumstance of the
| dynamiting. Their business was to es-
tablish that Van Horn had deliberate
| lv caused damage to n railroad and so
committed an offense which is extra
ditable between the United States
and Canada.
| Meantime the question whether Van
Horn was 4 political or criminal OF
fender was the subject of exchanges
between Ottawa and Washington.
Van Horn, still claiming TO be an
officer Of the German army and appear
ing to feel secure in his position that
he had properly committed an act of
war and so could not be cxtradited,
awaited events with eomposure.
His only regret is that he succeeded
III only slightly damaging the bridge.
1t has been stated he would appeal to
the German embassy at Washington.
but so far as is known he has made
no move in this connection. Nor has he
} consulted lawyer.
No charge has been preferred
against him and he IL detained on the
} authority OF the attorney general oi
Maine until inquiry into the facts OF
} tine case can be made.
1t was explained that because of the
! suspicious circumstances he could be
held indefinitely unless j writ OF
habeas corpus was obtained.
Q Van Horn has shown no disposition
b. TO seek liberty. A trial justice stands
. ready to issue writ for arrest on any
+ of several charges. These include il
e legal transportation of dynamite and
Q of causing damage in this town
Y where windows of some buildings were
1 broken.
The secret service men, divided int
z squads, some operating here while 9th
f ,e-s crossed the river.
1 Some of them paid particular attcn
$ tion to that part of Van Horn s stor.
d in which he said he obtained the dyna
IS mite from a confederate whom he me
t on the Canadian side.
e An effort was made to learn whethe
/ he had any companions on tue tril
h from New York, and if other stranger
e had visited nearby villages recently.
y The prisoner occupies a room in tn
2, immigration station, where he is com
9 Portable. His meals are sent in from
Is restaurant He is willing enough t
i: talk, but adds practically nothing t
II the statement made at the time U
It his arrest.
A. Temporary repairs of the bridg
= enabled full trains to cross it today
n although the speed was limited to 81
N miles an hour.
ST Van Horn late today appealed to til
+ German ambassador ut Washington
T. Count Won Bernstorff. He told the la
~ ter he had not been on Canadian so
and asked for protection from extri
dition. Van Horn gave to the press til
following copy Of the telegram whic
was despatched to the German embass
at Washington. - was arrested hel
for blowing up the Canadian end of Il
lie bridge at Nanceboro between ATaiI
and Canada / am held here by til
attorney general of Maine at the :
). quest of the Canadian authorities, WI
Ill are trying to get eXtradition papers i
IL Ime from Washington. Please look a
lie ter my interests in this matter, as
ID. am a German subject and did not p'
foot on Canadian soil Answer. Sig
ed, Werner Van Horn.