New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-22
State Surprised by Pleas of
Sander and Wun-
nenberg
Official Says They
"Still Serve Kaiser"
Mysterious Orders Report
ed to Have Changed De-
PENDANTS Course


,be truth of the charge that they had
,nt spies into England and other Eu-
ppean countries to gather information
sor the German military staff.
The government officials believe that
ne pair pleaded guilty on instructions
received in the last twenty-four hours.
Where the orders came from is a mys-
.sry but that they were issued to pro-
.sct one or more we'll known German
Americans in this city was the report
last night.
When Sander and Wunnenberg ap-
near before Judge Van Fleet in the
United States Circuit Court to-day for
sentence, John c. Knox, Assistant
United States Attorney, is expected to
present the facts in the case, most Of
which have never been permitted to
become public.
Would Give Long Terms
The maximum penalty the two may
receive is three years and $4,000 fine.
An official connected with the case
said last night that while he would
gve Sander ten years if it lay in his
rower, he would give Wunnenberg
twenty.
Sander did not try TO hide his Ger
nanism under a cloak of Americanisrh
as did Wunnenberg," he explained.
-Wunnenberg. a naturalized American
citizen, is by ear the greater offender
L is too bad we can't get all the Wun-
rsnbergs as We got this one"
Important evidence against Sander
and Wunnenberg was obtained in the
asst three days, including eleven sheets
4 reports written by the two. some
riended for Berlin, some for a Ger
zan-American now in this city. These
Tsre discovered by Mr.. Knox in the
,Sees Of the Central Powers War Film
Exchange, $50 Nassau Street, through
an accident Tuesday night
Wrote in Invisible Ink
Nr Knox was in his Office preparing
laia for the trial He had before him
eleven sheets Of the specially yeprepared
pspsr on which Sander and his spies
wrote their reports in invisible ink. He
'oOk one of the sheets all apparently
blank-and wrote on it with some Of
iae invisible ink to determine whether
ne could demonstrate the defendants
method to the jury. When it dried he
'ponged it off with a sympathetic chem
cal which. when dissolved in vinegar,
iorns developing solution.
TO his surprise, not only the name
8r Knox wrote but German words
ade their appearance. The prosecut-
Or and his assistant, who understands
Sermsn, then set TO work on the rest
Of the sheet and on the others. The
result was a mass Of evidence. Its
hs'are Is kept secret, but described as
o. the utmost Importance.
Another piece of evidence which
sander and Wunnenberg knew the gov
eminent obtained was a letter which
one Of them recently sent to z, friend
isilng Of his arrest In IL the writer
admitted that they had him right" a"
ms missive was turned over TO Mr..
hnox and would have been used in
court
Scene Dramatic and Short
The scene before Judge Van Fleet
lssierdsy was as dramatic as it was
mort Mr.. Knox was there for the
s"ernment Charles Oberwager. who
nss been counsel in one German con-
piracy case after another. appeared
{" me defendants. Sanders wife. who
very pretty, sat on one Of the
On behalf Of my clients with.
usw the pleas Of not guilty" said
y, Oberwager when the case was
slea. I'VE plead guilty 10 the
10 you realize the gravity Of the
.asrge against you?" Judge Van Fleet
asec the defendants.
DO said Sander Wunnenberg
'hssered that he did too.
M. Knox made no effort 20 conceal
~ surprise. Judge Van Fleet then
g,'ofred the two remanded 20 the
'onbs until to-day, when they viii be
snnn need 10 the Federal Pcnitcntiary
At Atlanta.
srs Sander made her way 70 her
o'osnd's side and with tears coursing
eosn her checks bade him keep up his
logra9c.
10 nc newspaper men who gathered
'eho him Sander said later:
don't mind spending the summer
we South. Anyway, they will let
y wife visit me-"
IN an adjoining room was George
s9h Bacon, the American press agent,
gse1y 70 testify against the prisoners.
.Ir1spn' who was jointly indicted with
- iNo, has confessed 20 his part IN
s conspiracy, both 10 the British au-
Hy' y'hes, who arrested him IN London,
Ao 70 United States officials
Davis Here from Prison
Niin Bacon was Robert Davis. a
lnsr associate Of Sander and Wun-
saeerg, who came down from Sing
Af V testify. He broke with them
neh ne learned they were sending
p'ss 70 England and 70 the Continent
Denat o. the Kaiser's government.
f he vas convicted on n charge
gss,srrsd b. Wunnenberg Of stealing
40 from him.
me gOsernment was also prepared
eHer proof that the money Sander
.aN hls gpics came from Berlin by
- " German agent in COpen-
ssn, who dispatched the funds 10
a,,hsr agent here by express. This
s.eshsJ, after being passed on % an
sT German agent, the authorities
no hnaliy reached Sander
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