Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-12
German Envoy Charges Spy"
Tried to Extort Money
From Countess.
HAD CODED DISPATCHES,
AMBASSADOR ALLEGES
Kaiser's Former Secret Service Agent
Held Here in So. 900 Bail for
Hearing Wednesday.

Charged with attempting 10 eAtort
$4,000 from Countess Won Bernstor6.
wife of the German ambassador. Karl
Armgaard Graves. self-styled interna-
tional spy and magazine writer. was
arrested here yesterday by agents of
the Department Of Justice.
Graves is said to have threatened to
publish letters alleged to contain mat
ter showing her Countess Won Bern
storf's) infrmities and failfnss." Off
cials of the German embassy also say
that Graves had in his possession coded
dispatches which were apparently con-
fidential diplomatic documents from
the German government to Count Won
Bernstorn.
Tine p4lsoner told the federal agents
he obtained all the documents from per-
sons who snugsled them past the Brit
lsh censors on the steamship Oscar H.
The warrant upon which he was ar
Cafgned last night and held on $1,000
oail for IL further hearing Wednesday
charges him also with bringing into the
District of Columbia letters stolen i'll
Hoboken, y. j., where the Oscar III docks.
Denies Intention of Blackmailing.
at which he entered plea Of not guilty,
Graves asserted that he had no inten-
ton OF blackmaiing the countess; that
he objected to the use of the word
blackmail. and that the papers he had
in his possession Were purely diplo-
matte in character.
Much interest was aroused in official
quarters at the indirect exposure OF the
manner in which persons and officials IN
Germany apparently are avoiding the
British censorship i'll communicating with
the German embassy here.
The arrest OF Graves furnished a dra-
matte conclusion TO negotiations which
had been in progress for d week between
him and Prince HatZfeldt, counselor OF
the German embassy. Graves is said to
have come to Washington week before
last and called at the embassy. He was
known there the man who had pub
lished widely what he alleged to be i'm
portant secrets of the German war office
and the Hohenzollerns. He also was
known a man who previously had de-
scribed himself member of the Ger
man secret service and later as an en-
p.oye in foreign fields of the British for
eign office. The Master spy he called
himself.
Said to Have Asked $1,000.
Officials aliege that upon entering
it known that he had in his possession
the papers which yesterday brought
about his arrest One letter which he
exhibited was to the Countess Won
Bernstorff from her son. an officer in
the German army. He said, according
10 statements made by federal officials
last night, that he had other letters
that would prove embarrassing for
The official dispatches were said to be
useless to him for the reason that he
could not decipher them. He is alleged
20 have asked s3.0oe III cash if he de-
iiyered the papers. He also is alleged
10 have asked Prince Hatzfeldt to pre-
pare and sign statement fthat the
money lad been paid for services rem
dered the German government.
Embassy officials said Graves threat
ened TO turn over some Of tae docu-
rnents to White House officials if the
$4,000 was not forthcoming.
The letters showed no postmark and
officials OF the embassy were convinced
that they had been obtained in some
manner from confidential messenger.
whose identity still is undisclosed.
Prince HatZfeldt promised to take the
matter under consideration. Federal
officials declare Graves gave Prince
Hatzfeldt u certain time within which
he was TO comply with his conditions.
Conference at Counselor's Home.
Prince HatzfeIdt communicated with
the United States district attorney s
office here as soon as Graves left his
office Another meeting was arranged
and Friday Graves telegFaphed from
New York that he would present him
self later III the day Prince IIatzfeldt
put $4,000 into an envelope and with
two agents Of the Department of JUS
tice weat to his home here TO await
Graves. He failed to make his appear
ance. however
Yesterday morning Graves called the
embassy and requested an appointment
with Prince Hatzfeldt at his home A
few hours later he arrived there and
convsrsed with the counselor for half
an hour. Policeman Theodore peIavigue
was hiding behi'.d door in the room.
= federal agent was III the street out
side.
1t is said that Prince HatzfelGt show
ed Graves the $1,000" and that the lat
ter said ne would go to his hotel and
get some Of the documents Iie did not
have with him. Leaving the house b.
walked into the arms Of Detectives
Hughlett and Spriugmanu. and was
taken to IN. Department of Justice
where for hours he was examined by
Bruce BtelaskI. IN charge of the bureau
of investigation. and his assistants. A,
theend of the examination Mr.. BieIas1
swore out Il warrant. All the papers in
Graves possession We're taken from
him.
Letter From Her Cousin.
The letter which Graves is alleged I,
have said would prove embarrassing
70 Countess Won Farnstorrf was couch.
ed federal investigators assorted IL