Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-16
FAY TELLS STORY OF LIFE
TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY KNOX
Government Will Not Accept Tale
Without Full Notification.

New York, Nov. 15.-Robert Fay,
self styled lieutenant in the German
army and by his own confession, head
of a gang Of bomb makers that sought
to destroy munition- laden ships sail
ing from New York to the allies, told
the story of his life today to Assist
ant United States District Attorney
Knox.
Fay TO Plead Guilty,
Fay talked freely, fully and virtually
five hours without interruption What
he said was not made public, but at
the conclusion of the session Mr.. Knox
announced that all Fay wanted to do
now was to plead guilty to the gov
ernment's charges against him and go
to Jail.
Confession Was Voluntary.
P ]. Mcdonald, lawyer appointed
by the court to represent Fay. sought
to see his client in Mr.. Knox's office,
but failing, served on Mr.. Knox notice
of his intent to deTnur to the indtct-
ment. Fay read the demurrer, while
the lawyer waited outside and. accord
ing to Mr.. Knox, said he didn't want
to dernur to the Indictment or do any
thing. else but plead guilty and start
at once to serve his sentence. Fay's
long talk with Mr.. Knox was made
upon his own solicitation and without
promise Of Immunity or leniency.
Told DetaiIs of His Mission.
The statement which the prisoner
dictated. carried him back to Ger
many, almost to the date of his birth,
covered the high lights of his service
in the German army, told in detail Of
his alleged mission to America and
recited his movements and activities
here. Whether it was true in its es-
sentials District Attorney Marshall
said afterwards, had Yet to be deter
mined, but some respects it was ver-
flied by information which the gov
eminent had collected from other
sources.
Admits Guilt of Charge.
There is no doubt" Mr. Marshall
| said, that his name is really Fay and
that he served in the German army
AS to the rest, we do not know. His
statement differs somewhat from his
previous story, but admits his guilt OF
the charges against him"
( Source Already Traced.
/ What Fay told Mr. Knox today leads
back to a source to which already
has been traced another case under
investigation by the government; &C.
Icording to Rodger B. Wood, an assist
ant to Mr.. wood Mr.. Wood has pre-
pared most of the cases in the pass
port frauds and also prepared the gov
ernment's case against Karl Buenz and
other officials of the Hamburg Amer
rcan line, indicted on a charge Of con-
/ Spiracy and to be placed on trial this
week.
A Fifth Man Was Director.
Five cases of this sort lead back tc
four sources" Mr.. Wood said. These
are the Fay case, the Buenz case and
| three passport fraud cases. In none
Of the cases did the actual defendant;
know what the defendants in the othel
cases were doing. The four sources
however, directing these five cases, are
very close together--very. It Is my
belief that these four men all reported
to and took their, orders from a ffftH
mon, who was the director Of all the
trouble of this sort in the United
States"
IF you could prove this" Mr.. Wool
was asked. would you or could yot
prosecute this fifth man .
Cannot Prosecute Any Diplomat.
"AH can say to that" he replied
lis that under the law we cannot pros.
eeute any diplomatic representative o.
a foreign country"
| When Fay ended his long statement