The sun., 1917-10-18
j. s. WILL ASK
'DUNBAR'SDEATH
FOR TREASON
Former Ensign, Accused of
Being Spy, to BE Tried
Here.
EVIDENCE "CONCLUSIvE"
Five Germans Working i'm
Harlem Shipyard Are In
termed After Fight.

+ William j. Dunbar, recently a pro-
visional ensign IN the United states
Navy and now held here as "a dangerous
alien enemy" will be tried for treason
and the death penalty will be asked by
his prosecutors.
II was said last night by a high Fed
era! official that the Intelligence Bureau
industriously on the case. now has a
mass of evidence which. II believes,
leaves little doubt as to the outcome OF
the trial.
in the Presidents proclamation of April
Is which read: Resident aliens. as
well as citizens. owe allegiance TO the
United States and are equally subject
to Its Jaws
THE S. Ms informant said the courts
have held that any one who by any act
OF publication, statement or information
gives or supplies comfort or aid to tho
enemy is guilty OF treason and treason
is punishable by death. He went on to
say that Dunbar's alleged offences easily
come under this head and that the Gov
crnment is hSi,v gratifed with the
work Of the Intelligence Bureau and the
, Department of Justice.
Visited Muuition Plants.
From the same source II was learned
that Dunbar. who is an accomplished
linguist. while teaching French in a
Pottstown. Pa. school was a frequent
visitor To nearby Inuni'ion plants on
the plea OF selling engines or other ma
chnery. Even then he was under sur
vellance, although no explanation was
vouchsafed as TO why he was permitted
10 enter the United States Navy as q
commissioned officer.
II was understood last night that
Dunbar's case soon will be presented be-
fore a Federal Grand Jury In the event
of his indictment he will be placed on
trial at once In the Criminal Branch Of
the United States District Court here.
After THE SuN came in possession OF
the foregoing facts last night. John c.
Knox, Assistant United States District
Attorney. vas asked what course he
proposed TO take in Eunbar's case Mr..
Knox said AS yet | have received
no report on the case"
Dunbar was arrested last Monday
night. This was not the first time
he was In custody. for he was previously
arrested in Washington and then act
free. This was done by the Government
officials In order to procure additional
links for It's chain OF evidence. Every
step the suspected man took was noted
by the Department of Justice operatives
When he came on TO New York the de-
tectivcs followed him.
Five Aliens Sciscd Here.
Five German employees Of the Charles
l.. Seabury Shipbuild!ng Company, I7lst
street and Harlem River. were seized
Yesterday by Department of Justice
operatives and interned on Ellis Island
The arrests were ba sed on charges tina,
/ they were violating the provisions o!
President Wilson's proclamation regard
ing the employment OF aliens in plants
having direct or indirect bearing on the
war situation.
The prisoners are William Saner
I Joseph Schoepe, Henry Frlershaun
Richard Berndt and W. Eckeriin. Al
! are mechanics The shipyard's prncipa
/ contracts Just now are for submarine
! chasers So far as is known here the,
/ are the first arrests made in shipyards
! since the war began.
The tnforma tion leading up to the
| seizure of the quintet was supplied h,
the Navy department. All the evidence
is in the navy's possession and very
I little Is known here Of the case Com
mander Spencer Eddy. In charge Of the
| Navy Intelligence Bureau at Is Wal
! street. said last night he could not dis.
cuss the arrests. inasmuch as the Navy
Department telephoned from Washing
ton yesterday that no information should
be vouchsifed by his bureau In the
future unless It had been passed upor
At Washington.
Germans Flight VainIy.
Assistant United States District At
! torney Knox said he knew nothing o
the case except the telegram he re
ceived from Washington ordering IN,
seizures This order he transmitted tt
| the Department of Justice. In the alb
sence of William NJ Ofiey. division
superintendent. Joseph a. Baker, his as
sistant. detailed six operatives to go &c
the shipyards.
From a reliable source it was learnc.
last night that the prisoners strenu
| ously resisted arrest.
! At the offices of the Seabury COMPANY
! the cashier said they had been cmployc,
! as extra men. All but one are listed -.
Germans. but Schoepe described himsrl
as "machinist and an American"