New-York tribune., 1918-07-31
Becker Gives Out Note
Written by Traitor Who
Was Shot in France
Missive Sent to
Mime. Barrientos
Assistant Attorney General
Tells How Trail of
"Pacha" Was Traced

Alfred L. Becker, assistant to Attor-
ney General Merton E. Lewis, who in
vestigated Bolo Pacha's activities in
this country for the French govern
ment and while so doing ran across the
trail of William Randolph Hearst, yes
terday made public the following state
ment:
"A side light on the activities Of
Bolo Pacha in America is revealed in
his social attentions to Nine. Maria
Barrien,os. the famous Spanish soprano
of the Metropolitan Opera.
"When Attorney General Lewis un-
dertook the investigation of Bolo
Pacha at the request of the French
government he sought to retrace every
step taken by the French adventurer
while in this country. 1t was soon dis
covered that Bolo met Nine. Barrientos
in New York and had shown her vari-
Gus attentions.
Accordingly, when Nine. Barrientos
arrived on the steamship Antonio
Lopez, OH ueT return iIOEl GCdlN, JAN
uary is last, she was greeted at Quar-
antlne by representatives of Attorney
General Lewis. They requested the
privilege of examining her private
papers for the purpose of obtaining
evidence of Bolo's activities. She
cheerfully granted the permission
sought and appeared later for examina
ton before Deputy Attorney General
Alfred l.. Becker.
"When Bolo came to America. in
February, 1916, he brought with him
a letter of introduction to Nine Bar
rientos from mutual friend in BARGE
Iona. On the day of his arrival. Feb
ruary %, he at once forwarded the
letter of introduction. accompanied by
q magnificent bouquet of flowers, to
the Metropolitsu Opera House In re-
Spouse Nine. Barrientos invited him
to tea, where he met the wife of an
American diplomat. One or two other
meetings followed.
"Bolo's purpose in seeking the ac-
quaintance CT Nine. Barrientos ap-
pears to have been purely social His
attentions to her, consisting of flowers.
professions of homage to the illus
trious artist and invitations to dine,
were not very we'll received. According
TO her testimony, her woman's intui
ton soon began to tell her he was
not quite what he pretended to be.
pect he was guilty of any disloyalty
to France. Knowing her to be warm
heartedly pro-Ally, he always pro
fessed like sentiments. She disliked
him, however, and after the first few
meetings she refused to see him.
His Friend Hearst
"Bolo wrote Nine. Barrientos on the
stationery of the Plaza Hotel an in
teresting letter, which, translated,
reads as follows:
"The Plaza, New York,
"Thursday Morning.
Dear Madame: The address Of
the wife of my friend is Mrs. Milli-
cent Hearst. 1877 Riverside Drive.
goyage to Paris.
Il shall arrange for you the ap.
pearance of certain articles for your
behalf, which will precede your ar
rival at Buenos Ayres While YOU
would have no need of them, your
immense talents placing you above
all other voices heard to-day, still,
being unable to do anything else that
would be agreeable to you, can only
offer what is in my power, and do
SO with all my heart.
Permit me to place at your feet
the homage of great admiration.
"BOLO PACHA."
The irony of Bolos offer to procure
publicity for Nine. Barrientos in
Buenos Ayres lies in the fact that ii
was proved at the trial Of Bolo that he
married there q French singer named
Mme. Soumailles. and after few weeks
or months deserted her.
AT Bolo's trial she appeared to con-
front him and prove him bigamist
Bolo's only answer was: All, but it
was such n small matter-aDd it was so
long ago.
The Banquet at Sherry's
Bolo Pacha's reference to Hearst as
my friend" is not inconsistent with
the facts discovered by Attorney Gen
eral Lewis while developing the evi-
dence on which Bolo was afterward
shot by the French government for
treason The investigation disclosed
that while Bolo was here negotiating
with German agents for funds TO carry
on his "made in Germany" pacifist
campaign in France he gave a banquet
at Sherry's at which five of the eleven
guests included Hearst and members of
ms private and official family. A sixth
guest was the German spy master,
Adolf Pavenstedt, who now is in an in
ternment camp in Georgia. Attorney
General Lewis's Investigation further
disclosed that after tx dinner Bolo |
vas guest at Hearst's home, 1877
Riverside Drive q
At the conclusion of his work Attor-
hey General Lewis gave the newspapers
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