New-York tribune., 1916-05-02
FAY CONDUCTS
HIS OWN TRIAL
Dissatisfied with Counsel,
Alleged Plotter Examines
Witness Himself.
GOVERNMENT CASE
MAY CLOSE TO-DAY
Defence Will Occupy Three
Days Expect New Indict-
ment Against Won Igel.

Lieutenant ROBERT ray, OF tne Ger
man secret service. arose from his sea
AZ the end of the oross-cxamination o
government witness yesterday an'
announced TO the court that he woul'
like to conduct his own trial from tina
moment forward
81 move" said Fay, addressing Judg'
Howe, that / handle my own case from
now on. There are many importan
facts that my counsel has no knowl
edge Of"
For moment no one spoke. Fay
action was unprecedented in Fedora
Court practice and it was surprise
Judge Howe then ordered a recess e
permit Fay to confer with Henry L
Unger, his counsel.
Just before Fay created his little sen
sation Unger had asked the witness OF
the stand, Edward Brecker, reporte
on "The World If he regarded wha
Fay had said TO him during an inter
view shortly after his arrest as "ra
tional or irrational" Il was believed
that this question had irrtated Fay.
When court was resumed Fay's coun
sci told the court that, in Justice t.
counsel and to Fay. he felt he shoul'
state that Fay, in mis- consultations witt
counsel, had not made a clean breas
of many things.
Judge Grants Request.
Judge Howe observed that the situa
tion was extraordinary, but that sine,
the defendant was a foreigner he woul,
allow the request.
Fay, evidently pleased, stalked from
his seat and, facing the witness. fire.
question after question at him with
quiet force and dignity that many
lawyer with years Of practice canno
boast. The burden OF what Fay sough
TO bring out was that he had sent 70
Brecker chiefly to have "The World,
which he regarded as the organ O. tn
Wilson Administration, publish hi
views on the shipment Of munitions q
the Allies.
Judge Howe finally told FAY that hi
questions were not proper cross-eXam
ination and suspended the examination
OF the witness 70 permit Fay and Unge
20 confer on the proper questions.
After the adjournment of court Fa
told newspapcrmen that the reason b
had asked 10 conduct his trial was tha
tho plan Of defence was not in accor
with his ideas. Later FAY and his coun
sci had a conference at the TOmbs.
Daeche Plotted with Breitung.
The next witness called by the gov
ernment was Detective Thomas +
Hughes, a stenographer at Police Head
quarters. who read into the recorl
statements made by Fay and the tw'
other defendants, Paul Daeche an,
Walter Scholz, at the time Of their ar
rest
The only new testimony brought ou
was statement made by Daeche tha
he was introduced TO Fay by Max Brei
tung. that il was their intention q
blow up munition carrying ships an,
that he had discussed the plot witt
Breitung and Or. Albert Kienzle.
Wolf von Igel. the German Embass'
attache indicted for conspiring 20 blow
ND the Welland Canal. will not plead
until Monday. Il is believed that ii
the mean time a superseding indict
ment will be found against Won lgel
Hans Tauscher and others charge'
with completely in the plot. The nov
indictment will be found on eyidenc
seized when Secret Service men ralde,
Won Igels office. at so Wall Street.