Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-16
FAY MAKES FULL
CONFESSION OF
MISSION TO j. S.
Tells Story of Life to Assist
ant District Attorney
Knox.
WANTS TO PLEAD GUILTY
TO GOVERNMENT CHARGES
Talk Is Upon His Own Solicita-
Talk Is Upon His Own Solicita-
ton and Without Promise
of Leniency.
WILL RE QUESTIONED AGAIN
hInted That Man "Higher Up" Is
Diplomatic Representative OF
Foreign Country.

NEW YORK. November l5.-Robert
Fay, self-styled lieutenant in the Ger
man army, and By his own confession
mead or gang or bombmak kers that
sought to disable or destroy munitfon
laden ships sailing from New York to
the entente allies. told the story of
his life to-day to Assistant United
States District Attorney Knox Fay
talked for five hours without Interrup-
ton. What he said was not made pub
ilc' but Mr.. Knox announced that Fay
wanted to plead -uilty to the gov
cTnmcnt's charges against him
4. j. Mcdonald. lawyer appointed
hH the court to represent Fay. served
on Mr.. Knox notice Of his intent to
dcmur to the Indictment. Fay read the
demurrer. and. according to Mr. Knox.
said IN" did not wish to demur to the
Indictment or 10 do anything but plead
guilty and start at once 10 serve his
sentence.
Fay's talk with Mr.. Knox was upon
his own solicitation and without prom
isc OF leniency. The statement car
red him back TO Germany. covered
Tho high lights Of his service in the
German army, told in detail OF his
alleged mission TO America and recitcd
his activities here.
STATEMENT or FAY
lS PARTLY VERIFIED
District Attorney Marshall said in
some respects the statement was veri-
fed by information which tho govern
mont had collected.
There is no doubt" Mr. Marshall
said. ';ha, his Eame Is Fay and that
he served in tho German army. AS
Ia l.p
men, differs somewhat from his preyi-
Gus story, hut admits his guilt Of the
charges againe; him
what Fay told AIR Knox today. lead.
back L. a source To which already has
been traced another case under inves-
tiSation, according 10 Roger Il. Wood.
am assistant i'll MIR. Marshalls Office
Nr. Wood has prepared most OF the
cases ia the passport frauds and also
h"s prepared the governments case
against Earl Bucnz and other officials
OF the Hamburg American Line, in
dicted on a charge OF conspiracy ana
TO be placed on trial this week
Five cases of this sort lead back
10 four sources" Mr. Wood said. They
arc the Fay case. tho Buenz case and
tho three passport cases. In none o:
the cases did tho actual defendants
KNOW ~hat the defendants in the other
cases were doing The four sources.
how"ver directing these five cases are
very close togcther---vcry. 1t is my
belief that thee four mon al! re-
ported 10 and took their orders from a
Gfth man. who was the director of
all the trouble of This sor, in the
United States"
HINT THAT FOREIGN
ENVOY IL INVOLVED
If you could prove this" Mr.. Wood
was asked, would YOU or could YOU
prosecute this nth man
All can sa! TO that" hc replied.
is that under the law We cannot
prosecute any diplomatic representative
Of n foreign country"
When Fay ended his statement he
was taken back 70 tho TonilIs. lie will
lac questioned Ivy Mr.. Knox Tomorrow.
rs inc statement contained many leads.
il is said. about which the co-ernrncnt's $
lawyers want more Information.
Both Nr Marshall and Mr.. Knox de-
ciincd to say If any one else was
implicated i'll Fay's new statement