Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-05
SECRET SERVICE
MEN HUNT NEW
SPY SUSPECTS
Telegram, Found at Union
town, Mentioned du Pont
and Bethlehem Fires
VIEWED POWDER PLANTS

| PITTSBURGH, Jan. 6--J J. Hewitt and
! J. T. Lee, alleged to be German spies en-
J gagged IN the destruction OF muniton and
! powder-makng plants in this country,
/ are being sought by the Secret Service
Agents Of the United States. The last
| trace the Secret Service men had OF the
| suspects was at Uniontown, Pa.
Under the guise OF coke operators from
| Wilkinson. Washington, they went to
Unlontown recently, ostenslbly, II Is said
to examine coke-drawinE machines man
ufactured by tho Covlngton Machine
Company. of Covington, Va. While In
Uniontown they we're taken to Fair
chance. eight miles from Unlontown.
where they observed the location and
construction of the du Pont Powder Com
pany plant.
Since that time the powder-maltlng plant
at Falrchance has been unde strict
espionage day and night. That the sus-
poets were implicated in the destruc-
tion of the muniton plants at Wilkinson
Bethlehem, Roebling and du Pont last
summer and autumn is the belief Of the
sercret service agents.
The mission OF the suspects In Union
town, IL Is alleged. became known through
the finding of a telegram by hotel clerk
and the notifications from the authorities
at Wilkinson to County Detective John
Smith. of Fayette County, to apprehend
the men should they arrive IN Uniontown.
AhfN uau ltlN NIllOnlO"n pne
for New York and another for Buffalo,
when the request arrived.
PECULIAR TELEGRAM.
The telegram. which was sent to Lee, !
Is regarded as most suspicious and most |
important to the secret service men.
1t reads:
Wilkinson. wash. to J. T. Lee.
Uniontown. Pa. Cover UP, Joe.
Fires at wilkinson. Bethlehem. Roeb-
ling and du Pont. Would advise
strategic retreat II the German fleet
has landed and you have taken refuge
on 1t come home to your sorrowing
wife.
tsgncd) II. r. b. W. +. c.
shortly after this telegram was received
;ounty Detective Smith received notice
rom the Wilkinson authorities to appre-
lend the men. Secret Service Agent Rob-
rt S. Judge arrived "A few days later in
'niontown and began an investigation.
While 1t is now thought that Lee and
levitt were never engaged in the coke
making business, they were familiar with
/, even to the smallest details. From
wilkinson they wrote to the officials of
he Covington Machine Company, whose
nices are In New York and manufactur-
lg plants In Virginia, asking them to
end an agent to meet them in Union
Own and demonstrate the operation OF
heir coke-drawing machines in a num-
er OF cokc-maktng plants near Fair
hance.
GOT INSIDE PLANT
L. c. Kicks was sent from Covington to
lcet Lee and Hewitt. Kicks showed them
lie Coke-druwinE machines in the vicinity
Fairchance. and while there, Lee and
ewitt had an opportunity to observe the
terror of the powder-making plant from
hillside, where the coke works are To- {
lted They were able to do this without {
Iusing any suspicion. They remained in ,
niontown two days and while there took /
number of automobile rides and became |
milar with the various roadways
iroughout the vicinity of Uniontown and !
airchance. the Secret Service men as !
rt.
Before they departed from Uniontown $
iey- negotiated for the purchase of l.
1000 worth of coke-drawlng machines .
be delivered at Wilkinson. Accord :,
& to the ARRANGEMENTS they made with :
icks. they were to return to Wilkin- =
m and make plans and specifications for 9
q construction of the coke-drawng =.
achines. About 10 days after they de- .
Irted from Uniontown letter was re- !,
lived from Hewitt by Kicks, postmarked !
ew York city, instructinG Kicks to =
ithhold the order until further notice. :,