The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-08-02

THE GERMAN SUSPECTS HERE Messrs. i,
Haakon M. Bjornstronson, Stefenson and
Fl. G. johnson, the summer tourists who J.
arrived in Bangor July 23d and made ar
raneements to take fishing and hunt ng
trip to Norcross and vicinity, immedi-
ately attracted the attention of the Ban
gor authorities, principally for their gener-
al appearance and later because they
changed their plans and came to Sears
port by motor boat after apparently TAX
ing in all there was of note in Bangor.
Arriving at Searsport they began the
same line of investigation that had puz-
zled Bangor authorities. They took
rooms at the Cleaves house, where they
at once became the center of local inter-
ests In the meantime a secret service
man and his assistant arrived and took
charge of the case, assisted by Sheriff
Frank A. Cushman and other local otfi-
GERS including Capt. B. F. Colcord of the
Public Safety Committee. The secret
service man kept them under close OBJ !
|
Lake Friday the civil service man
brought the men to Belfast, where they
hoped to attract less attention, which
was apparently as disagreeable to the
suspects as to the officers. County At
torney Walter A. Cowan of Winter
port was called, but as no arrests
had been made until the New York au-
| thorities had been heard from or the
Deputy United States Marshal who left
Portland Friday noon arrived, Mr.. Cowan |
returned home at noon Friday. The sus-
poets had also sent numerous kilograms
to New York, including one to the Met
ropoitan Club of which M. Stefenson
claimed to be a member On account of
the delay they began to attract attention
at The Windsor, where they were quar-
tered. The writer heard M. Stefenson
tell his story of leaving New York with
the intention of making the trip through
Northern Maine, but seeing by the daily
papers that smallpox was prevalent there
simply changed their plans and came to
Searsport He also explained what their
luggage was and why they had such
quantities of provision, etc. His story
seemed very plausible and he was appar-
emily we'll educated, refined, well dressed
and gentleman They both claimed to
be Swedes and perfectly innocent of any
wrong intentions. Friday afternoon a
gentleman arrived in Bangor from New
York by auto and asked the News to cor
rect what had been said about the sus-
poets. The stranger said: ION my way
to Bar Harbor l stopped at Northport for
luncheon and while there read the ar
ticle about Mr. Stefenson and his COM
panion in the Bangor Daily News. Now
this is all one great mistake, can assure
you Mr.. Stefenson is Swede, men,
Der of fine family there, he has high ,
position with the Swedish government
and is we'll thought of by the Swedish !!
embassy in Washington. He is also man /
of large affairs in New York and is |
member of the Metropolitan Club. He is
a fine fellow and any talk which has been |
made in the papers is an injustice. You |
should make a correction of the stories !
concerning him. The man travelling |
with him is his companion, his secretary |
or whatever you might call him. Mr.. /!
Stefenson is about 80 years old and is |
fine fellow in every way" When asked |
by the News man why they had so much |
ammunition, etc, when it was close time |
in Maine, he said that probably Mr. |
Stefenson did not know of the States |
laws, but when he did he would respect
them or words to that effect. Saturday |
at $50 a. m. the Deputy United States |
Marshal arrived and after conference
with those concerned the suspects were |
released and left soon after for Bar Har
Dor The men were recognized by Bel
fast people, who met them in Northern
Maine last summer and who then thought |
they were Germans and wondered what !
had called them to Maine. The authori-
ties were justified in their actions as the J
present day conditions warrant all pre- i
caution possible in such cases. 1t is also |
reported that they are still under obser- |
walton and will be while they remain in
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