New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-21
Former Associate of San.
der and Wunnenberg
Now i'm Prison
GERMAN HAD LOTS
OF CASH, SAYS DAVIS
Tells of Starting for Eu-
rope, of Being Tor
pedoed and Rescued

Albert A. Sander and Charles ".
Wunnenberg, arrested as heads Of an
extensive German espionage system
which compromised the neutrality OF
the United States, pleaded not guilty TO
a charge Of conspiracy yesterday in the
United States District Court. Their
plea was made in the face OF assertions
bv Federal officials that men who had
been their agents or tools had turned
against them and would be witnesses at
the trial. Bail was fixed at $4,000.
George Vaux Bacon, one Of those who
is alleged to have done service as a
spy in the guise of newspaper CORE
spondent, is one who has already made
a statement of his connection with
Sander and Wunnenberg.
Another, the one who is said to have
given the clew that led to the arrests,
is Robert Davis, who is serving time in
Sing Sing for stealing money belong
ing to the Central Powers War Film
Exchange, operated BY Sander and
Wunnenberg.
Federal agents are still working on
lead given TO them by Davis, whose
statements were corroborated by Mrs.
Ada Fisher, his housekeeper. They
both declared that they had broken
with Wunnenberg when they found in
his room a suitcase containing what
looked like explosives.
Davis's Statement
When Davis was seen in Sing Sing he
said: 81 accidentally found that Wun-
nenberg had dynamite and fuses in my
house, and ! decided that if kept
along with him / would probably land
in Atlanta. | was willing to help in
what | supposed was legitimate, easy
work. for which / was being well paid
After I aust they caused my arrest for
alleged grand larceny of money that
Wunnenberg had gwen me. On the ad-
vice of counsel, as the easiest way out
| pleaded guilty to an attempt at lar
ceny, and received two-year sentence
here.
Then let the government know
what had been going on. That was
back in the late fall.
IL am a marine engineer, and for
years had a rooming house at 41011
Clinton Street, Brooklyn. Last sum-
mer / left on the steamer Leelanaw
supposedly for Swedish port. In the
engine room crew with me was Wun-
nenberg, who told me it had been his
plan to jump ship and go to Germany
TO enter the Kaiser's service.
"The ship was torpedoed off the Ork
news on August % last. We we're
picked up by the submarine which sank
us. staying on board Of her six hours,
frally landing in Kirkwall and coming
home through the help of the Ameri-
can Consul in Liverpool. When we
Landed here | took Wunnenberg TO my
place, where he stayed FOR ten days
or so.
There he told me of another plan he
had to 90 TO Germany. He went to
Holland on the pretence that he was
going over 10 get married. IL was ar
ranged that he was to return TO us 10
live when he came back. He came back
soon after and explained TO those that
asked that his wife was not able TO
travel He told US that he. had gone
through TO Germany, that IL was easy
once a person landed in Holland.
Returns to Germany
ale stayed with US this time for
couple of months and then went TO
Germany again, this time on the pre-
tence that he was going TO Holland 20
bring his wife back. While he was
gone a letter came addressed TO me
from Copenhagen inclosing draft for
$3.50 in my name on New York bank.
cashed it and put the proceeds in the
bank in my own name.
when he came back this time ne
told me he had entered the service OF
the German government, that | was in
il too and that need not worry about
working any more.
"'You never need work any more
said he. I've got you fixed
81 told him about the draft and ne
said that was all right, that he had
arranged 10 have IL sent me when l
told him that | had used SIS Of it.
at is all right he said. 1T is