Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
AMERICAN PASSPORTS
IN HANDS OF GERMANS
Officer and Three Reservists Re-
moved From Outward-Bound
Steamer.
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
Former Agent of North German
Lloyd Steamship Line Alleged to
Have Furnished Documents Fraud
ulentIy Obtained.
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY

NEW YORK. January Am alleged
conspiracy to furnish German army Of
ficers and reservists with fraudulently
obtained American passports, to enable
them to return to Germany without
danger of molestntion by French or
English authorities. was brought to
light to-day by the Department of Jus
tice
The disclosure came with the arrest
OF Carl Ruroede, former agent Of the
North German Lloyd Steamship Line.
and with the removal from the outward
bound steamer BergensfJord of n Ger
man officer and three German reservists
All were charged with conspiracy TO
defraud the United States government
through the use OF American passports
The four soldiers were taken off the
steamer just as she was passing quar-
antine, and brought back to New York
on a revenue cutter
All four bore photographic passnorts
Issued by the State Department 10
Americans and alleged to have been
furnished by Ruroedc. Other arrests
are expected.
HIS ACTS INSPIRED
ny PATRIOTIC MOTIVES
Ruroede said tonight, according to
Department of Justice agents that
Whatever he had done had been on his
own initiative and was inspired by pa
triotic motives. He was held in 500 600
bail. which he was unable to furnish
tonight. With him was arrested John
Aucher. his alleged associate. who also
was held in $4,000 bail, and Ruroedes
r-D hn
leased on his own recognizance
The German officer Lieutenant Ar
thur Wilhelm Heinrich Sachsc. was m
rolled on his honor "as an officer, and
a gentleman not to leave New York
city during the pendcncy Of the pro
ceedinSs. The three reservists. Wal
ter Muller. August Meyer and Herman
Negencr. We're held in $4,000 bail each.
Four others. two with American and
TWO with German names were detained
under 5000 bail each as material Wit
neSses
me arrests were the cullninatiou II
was said Tonight, Of an investigation
IN progress since the arrest in Eng.
land OF Carl Lody. who subsequently,
was executed as German spy l.ody
had passport Issued to an American.
an" The Department of Justice learned
that other American passports also
were IN the hands OF German citizens.
rms discovery WAS OF great concern
10 Inc state Department, as ii was
teared Americans holding passports
would he open to suspicion and nos
sible peril of their lives in countries
hclliGerent to GERMANY
UNDER SURVEILLANCE
FOR ABOUT SIX WcI:I<S
Ruroede las been under surveillance
Tor about six weeks He left his en-
pioymcnt with agents for the North
German Lloyd Line. and established an
oih"c IN the downtown district Tho
detectives learned IL was said that
ne was IN communication with Ger
man reserVists in all parts OF the coun-
tfS' While he received many of them
every hay 1T his office. Ruroede fur
hlsheu many with Swiss and Rouma
man passports. IL is alleged. To obtain
American passports it Is charged. Ru-
roede employed naturalized Germans
to apply for passports. Once certified
the passports were sent to washing
ton FOR signature by Secretary Bryon
ana the seal of the State Department.
ana on oeing returned were given IN
the rcserviSts.
All the defendants waived examina-
tion Their case will go to the grand
Jury. In arraigninR Lieutenant Sachsc
ana the three privates. Assistant Dis I
trict Attorney Constant said the gov
ernmrht did not consider their alleged |
onense criminal In its nature.
District Attorney Marshall said to-
night that he wished to emphasize that
I ne state Department had recently es-
tabiishcd new and stringent regulations ,
in the issuance OF passports. which. ii !
Is believed cannot be evaded