The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-06
CHARGES DEAL IN 90
FOREIGN PASSPORTS
Informer Tells New story of
Worldwide Traffic to
L. S. Officials.
RUROEDE HEARD ON WRIT

While counsel for Carl Ruroede. the
former employee of a German shipping
nrm here. who is charged with conspir-
ing to obtain fraudulent American pass
ports for Germans who wished to go
home to fight. was vanly trying yesier-
day to bring about Ruroedes release or
writ OF habeas corpus the agents or
the Department of Justice were investi-
eating an entirely new story OF passport
frauds.
II the Government has had any knowl-
edge that other than United states pass
ports were being dealt In no intimation
leaked cut until yesterday The man
who brought this Information to the De-
partment of Justice said he had sold his
passport-he is a citizen Of a neutral
European country--and that knew or
the sale of AT least nifty other passports.
all issued by neutral countries other
than the United states lie said that
the traffic was being conducted on what
he believed to he large scale here in New
York and that a German diplomat was
providing the funds
Those i'm charge at the Department
Of Justice offices would not discuss his
new phase of the case and IL could not
be learned whether the men mentioned
By the informer are among those sus-
pected In connection with frauds, the dis
covery OF which resulted In the arrest
OF Ruroede and OF Maurice Deiches
whose examination will take place on
January IL.
Tho argument before Judge Hand OF
the United states District Court on tho
writ of habeas corpus obtained for Hu-
roede failed to force the Government to
disclose more than has been already told
charles \. Oberwager. Ruroede's counsel
.N..ga hns IN
charged with an overt act, that the
warrant stated merely that IN further
ance Of a conspiracy against the Gov
eminent he had held a conversation with
q man named Aucher. and that both Ru-
roede and his counsel were ignorant OF
what was really charged.
by msinuation,' said Mr.. Dberwager,
IL am given to understand that an inter-
national scandal Is involved, but practl-
cally all Of my knowledge of the case has
been gained through the newspapers. We
are ready to play open and fair. We will
show what We have. Let the Government
show what II has"
Tie went on to say that II any wrong
had been done IL was through high mo-
tives ~ patriotism and not for the sake
, OF gain, and that this was very different
I from defrauding the Government OF reve-
/ nuCs
lie closed with a plea for a reduction OF
to release Ruroede on the writ
United States Attorney Marshall in his
reply said that Ruroede IL at the very
| centre of the conspiracy and that to OBJ
| tain fraudulent passports was a gross
misuse Of the Government" and laid every
| honest holder OF passports abroad open to
| inconV eniencc and possible danger That
: he said. made the case important, and
T while he knew or no "internat ,Oual scan
dtl' the Government intended TO get %
/ the bottom ~ the matter, nnd out who
were involved and have them punished
! Judge Hand said he would reserve de-
| clsion on the question Of the sufiiclency OF
| the Information contained in the papers
/ upon which Ruroede was arrested. lie
| refused 10 reduce the bail saying
| NO matter how patriotic the motives
! involved serious crime against the
| United States Is indicated which II Is i'm
| portant for the Government to run down
! and stop"