New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-28
U. FAILS ARTIST
CANADA 0USTED
Rockwell Kent, Deported
as Spy, Vainly Appeals
TO Lansing

Another charge tina. the Administra-
ton is disinelined 20 protect American
citizens abroad Is made in the ease OF
Rockwell Kent. American artist. who
Yesterday told how he had been driven
from Newfoundland under the charge
tina. be was a German spy. Full de-
tails OF his eviction had been laid be-
fore the State Department. MI Kent
received his reply yesterday IN brief
communication signed By NJ. Lansing
in which the Secretary positively re-
fused 70 interest himself further In
the ehse.
"The Secretary Of State was my court
Of last appeal" Mr. Kent said. i
looked upon him as the logical repre-
sentative Of American citizens. so far
as their treatment in foreign lands WAS
concerned. and naturally. when | WAS
driven from Newfoundland under the
most absurd charges imaginable. looked
70 him to aid me in recovering what
! had lost there.
al went 10 Newfoundland in An
gust. 1915, settling down in the village
Of Brigus 20 paint for two or three
years. ! purchased an old homestead
overlooking the ocean. spent $1,000 IN
repairing it and adding studio. then
brought nv wife and children 70 1--we
with me.
Details Of His Offences
my first offence against Great Brit
ain, IL seems, was 10 be caught read
ing a German translation Of Biornson.
NV second crime was 10 write letter
TO a carpenter ! knew in Wisconsin,
part Of which was in German. and my
third misdemeanor was to say In pub
lie; ~
will reach Berlin in fortnight, Per
haps il may be even year or so.
Grouped together, these three events
constituted me at once as a spy. The
most amazing rumors about me were
set abuzz throughout the island. l laid
in supply of coal for the winter, like
Any peaceful husbandman would do,
and the next day ! heard on the streets
that | was preparing 70 supply Ger
man U-boat with fuel.
"Soon after ! finished a painting
Portrait of a Child'-which ! attempt
ed to send to a dealer in New YORK;
The Newfoundland authorities refused
il shipment, alleging that charts OF
forts and coast defences were cieverly
concealed among the lines that formed
the child's face and figure and in the
mountain background behind her.
al was summoned to St Johns, nifty
miles away, TO appear before a police
inauisition and to be warned to cease
my German propaganda - whatever
that was. | resented the constant per
secution because it interfered greatly
with my work. So to satisfy my mlnd
] secured personal letters from Sir Ed
ward p. Morris, Prime Minister Of
Newfoundland, and Colonial Secretary
Bennett promising that | should not De
further interfered with.
Ousted from Newfoundland
an the face of these promises two
police officers called on me late in July
OF this year to inform me that | would
be given twenty-four hours TO leave
Newfoundland. My protests, the COM
fort of my family, the fact that my
children were i'll from the whooping
cough and my investments IN Brlgus,
all amounted TO zero. / was branded as
a spy, told that was under grave suS-
picion' and was shipped off English
soil like a common criminal.
"The only thing ! wanted to do IN
Newfoundland was to paint and to be
left alone. Perhaps | was tactless;
perhaps l spoke my mind too freely
when | saw what | believed to be an
Injustice. But at no time did / commit
ANYTHING approaching a crime. My per-
sonal losses, as the result of my evlc-
ton, were considerable"
Mr.. Kent is living in West New
Brighton, Staten Island. He is an
American by birth, had always lived IN
this country prior to his trip to New
foundland and is Of British descent
He remained silent about his ad-
ventures until yesterday because ttC
matter was still in the State Depart.
mept's hands.