New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15
Despite Denials, Federal
Agents Keep Up Search
in Philadelphia
Story Of Presence
Here Is Repeated
Ex.Attache Said To Be Cen
trail Figure Again in Ger
man Scheming

,r.... e,,r Correspondent O Tia Tribune
Philadelphia, March i4.-The German
Mot story continued TO increase IN
complexity to-day. and in spite OF all
denials and much discrediting Of me
rumor that Captain Karl Boy-Ed was IN
the citv within a few days, he remains
the centre Of the mystery.
In the face of the statements %
members Of the Gerard party tina. the
former German naval attache was IN
Rorli, shortly before they left, and the
cabled assurance that the captain was
on hand to bid the returning Won Bern
storf welcome at the German capital
tho activity Of the Department oil JUS
tice still focuses on the report OF ms
rresence here. As late as last night
Secret Service agents entertained high
hopes Of arresting Boy-Ed IN a Fh''a-
delphia suburb.
At least two residences have been un-
der surveillance in Philadelphia Tor
week. and automobiles coming from
them have been followed by other ma
chimes containing government agents
IN the hope that the trail might lead
70 the retreat OF Boy-Ed. The name
Of the young German naval officer VINO
camc straight from the naval intelll-
,,oncc Office in Berlin 10 organize and
direct the German espionage system
which now threads this country mas
bocn linked with the names OF the Ter
ran- under arrest here in the League
Island Navy Yard conspiracy.
II is possible tonight to present an
authoritative history Of the sensational
report Of yesterday that Boyd had
returned covertly TO the United States.
Il has been learned how the story org
;rated how it spread and became pub
lie and was first confirmed and then
denied by the same government agent
Told of BOy-Ed's Return
J. is confirmed by statements verihed
N governmental quarters that Onited
states agents did receive what they
deemed reliable information that Boy
va was back i'm America to resume his
intriguing enterprises where he left OIL
in December. 1915, when expelled by
President Wilson. The search for Boy
Ed By the most effective agencies the
government has at its command IS on
fun tilt. the assertions OF former Am
bassador James W. Gerard and cables
from Berlin notwithstanding.
Federal agents received the first IN
timation OF Boy-Ed's reputed visit mere
about ten days ago from a person wei
known in government circles as pur-
vevor Of trustworthy confidential intor-
nation. Invariably his tips have proved
of value. The government acted on MS
renort. which was that Boyd, wearing
ful beard. had been seen and recog-
nized In Philadelphia.
Several days ago The Philadel pnla
Evening Ledger" received virtually the
same information. The editors sent
man 20 Washington TO investigate.
Government officials verified the re-
nor that Secret Service men were
working on the case At their request
"The Evening Ledger agreed 70 with
hold publication Of the facts until noti-
fication by the government that pub
licitv would not interfere with plans
for the capture Of Boyd.
League Island Plot
Meantime came the League Island
plot exposures and the arrest OF Adal-
bert X. Fischer. his wife and Henry
Rohger on technical charges Of snug
Cling goods on and of the German
raiders Prnz Eitel Friedrich and
Krouprirz Wilhelm, interned at the
navy yard Then followed the dis
closure that Fischer, German army
officer. is president OF machinery
manufacturing company which for
years has made parts for American
battleships. Philadelphia seethed with
spy fever and protests against the
presence Of the German raiders az the
city's rates went 10 Washington.
On Tuesday morning THE Provi-
dence Journal" brought the name OF
Boy-Ed into the story. A newspaper
man questioned a government agent,
and u is understood, the agent con
hrmed the story Of the search for
Boy-Ed IN Philadelphia
Secret Service agents give out no
interviews Later the government
agent in question even denied the re-
port.
Next came the Gerard party state