Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-25
TRIO Of GERMANS
HELD AS P[0TTERS
Robert Fay, W. L. SchoIz and
Paul Daeche Charged With
Conspiracy.
TESTING OF EXPLOSIVES
LEADS TO THEIR ARREST
Bombs Designed to Delay Shipments
of Munitions to Allies Figure
in Allegations.

NEW YORK, October 25.-
Robert Fay, who claims to be a
lieutenant in the Germany army
and his brother-in-law, Walter l.
Scholz, were arrested yesterday
while testing explosives near
Grantwood. N. J., and were ar
raigned today before a Justice OF
the peace at Weehawken, N. J., on
charges of conspiracy, and held
without bail for examination to-
morrow.
The arraignment of the two men dis
closed the fact that a third man, Paul
Daeche, had been arrested early today
at his home in Jersey City after New
York and New Jersey police had
| searched the house. Daeche also was ar
raisned with Fay and Scholz and held
without bail.
| Detectives said they expected Daeche
| to prove valuable witness, as he already
had given them much important informa-
ton Daeche said he was thirty-four
years old, that he came to this country
from Germany in 1912. and was a gradu-
dte oI tOiOSne University.
Detective George Barnitz of the New
York central office squad made the af-
hdaVit upon which the three men were
held on charges Of conspiracy.
Declare Fay Made Confession.
Announcement was made at police head
quarters here today by Commissioner
Woods that Fay, after an all-night
grilling. had made confession
For more than twelve hours. it was
stated, Fay stuck to his original story
that he was not connected with the Ger
man government At $50 o'clock this
morning. according to the commissioner,
he broke down and admitted that he was
lieutenant in the German army and
| came to this country two or three months
ago for the specific purpose of expert
| menting with a machine containing high
explosives This machine, the commis-
sioner said, contained works like a clock
and was to be attached to the propeller
or rudder of a ship.
Inc machine was so constructed, he
SAID, that the stirring Of the water
would cause a rod connected with one
of the cogs to release a spring. resulting
in an explosion, which would disable
the ship and force her to enter to the
OF delaying shipments Of munitions to
the allies, Il was stated. Only ships
carrying war munitions were to be thus
disabled. according to Fays statement
A number of detectives left headquarters
IN automobiles early today, and it was
said several arrests would be made today
of men who were cognizant of Fay's
movements.
Investigation Is Continued.
Meanwhile the authorities continued
an investigation to discover whether
in arresting Fay and Scholz they had
obtained the key to a long series of ex-
plosions on steamships, fires on piers
and so-called accidents in various war
munition plants.
Fay was suspected by the police of
being the director of their activities.
Fay said he was lieutenant in the
German army, had won the iron cross
for bravery in the fighting in the
Champagne district Of France. and that
he came to America last April The
came here to work out plan to stop
the shipment of war munitions to the
allies.
Explosive Found in Rooms.
A large quantity Of explosives. in
cluding dynamite and various kinds Of
acid used in the making of explosives.
| was found in the rooms Fay and
Scholz occupied in Weehawken or in a
storehouse in Hoboken. Among the de-
vices seized by the police were peculiar
| bombs or mines believed to be designed
| for fastening to the rudders Of steam
ships.
Fay Had Auto and Boat.
At garage in Weehawken the po-
| held in Fay's name, and at boathouse
| on the Hudson river a swift motor boat
| which he was said to own. In the boat
house they also found four wooden
| boxes, each containing 12O pounds of
| chlorate of potash, one of the ingredi-
ents used in the manufacture OF So
called sugar bombs, in which water
percolatlng into the receptacle melts
the sugar, releasing springs and caus-
| ing an explosion.
Watched for Two Months.
| detectives of the New York police de-
partment for two months. They were
seen to pay frequent visits to an isolat-
| ed spot in the woods of Grantwood. N.
j., on the palisades near Weehawken.
| Saturday detectives hidden in a tree
| top watched the scene Of their activi-
! ties for eleven hours.
| They say they saw the two men come
| there late at night and test an e1plo-
| sive by blowing up tree.
Again yesterday the police watched In
| the woods and saw Fay and Scholz
| burning powder and testing an ex-
| plosive. When the test was completed
| the detectives arrested them. Accord
! ing to the police Fay offered $1,000 to