Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04

heard Ruroede tell Aucher. "a speciaI
land Tor passports has pe.n sent over
from Germany" This and many other
disclosures. relating to WcdeiTs WORK
In the past and the prospects Of his
Cussed
Luncheon over they left and scpa-
rated at the Whitehall Street entrance
lie at the Bridge street doorway in
ABOUT hftcen minutes" said Ruroede
In the meantime. III send my boy out
the money in bills"
On duty within sight of the building
were four more agents OF the depart
ment Aucher mo,ioncd them to cover
the Bridge street entrance. They had
hardly done so when Rurocd.s nov
rushed out with "a bankbook in his hand
AUcher stopped him with word of
caution az To going without ar over
coat. This ruse served 10 Identify the
boy to one OF the four agents. who
i"iiowcd the boy TO a bank and wit
messed the cashing OF d check
Tightening the Net.
AS the boy was going back into the
building Aucher again stopped him.
and asked the hoy to tell his father
that Auchcr was wary Of being seen
about the building, and for the father
10 pay him III the cafe at the corner
ut Tridse and whitehall Streets.
The boy hurried on. and. followed by
ms 20 "ork.rs. Auchcr went 20 the
cafe. AS the agent was having his
shoes shined a. tho bootblack stand
OF the Gaze. he was disappointed to see
me boy come in instead Of the father.
Where Is he" asked Auchcr. after
attracting the boys attention
The hoy explained that his father
was busy with caller, but that he
fad been sent with tho money. which
n was carrying in sealed envelope
IN his pocket
Aucher held out his hand for the en-
veiope. The boy delivered II. Az
Aucher opened IL and counted the
money. tho same agent who had fol-
lowed the boy TO the bank sauntered
IN ana STOOD by casually. near enough
t' watch the money being counted.
.'tt"r drink OF milk together. Aucher
dismissed the boy with message that
ne would he at the Office on the fol-
lowing morning with two more pass
ports.
Instead OF appearing IN person. how
ever ne%t day. Auchcr ielcphoned. He
told Kurocde that he had been able 10
get only one OF the passports and
gave Il satisfactory excuse Tor failure
TO get the other Again Auchcr invited
Ruroede To lunch. this time IN a restau-
rant al Broad and Bridge Streets
Auchcr suggested meeting a few
Al the restaurant Ruroede was bliss
tuily unaware that TWO Department or
Justice men were seated at a table
only few feet away from him and
Aucher so that when Auchcr pro-
ahCed another genuine passport. the
watching agents could no, possibly
mistake the details OF the transaction
tina; followed The department was not
allowing Rurocdc any loopho!vs
through which ne might escape from
III" nc;.
Nuroedc nabh!cs.
In .ull view OF tho TWO watchers. thu
passport was turned over TO Rurorde
with the comment that ''Wedeli was A
very bright man"
Huh" said Huroedc scornfuuy. lie
Was fool He spent about $500 and
got very little back on the investme mt.
Many OF those fellows simply Died him
with promises and never gave him
passports To- he money they received.
The worst thing he did though. was
10 forge TWO names on American pass
ports, That's what made him get out"
Did YOU say that he had gone to
join his WIFE" Aucher suggested
Rurocde bit. and explained tina,
Wcdeils wife would reach Germany
before the missing man, having sailed
on the previous Tuesday. Wedcu had
gone TO Cuba. obtained a Mexican pass
p"i', was oue IN SPAN thdt day ana
would eventually arrive in Germany oy
way Of Italy.
Fntc ovcrtnkc. Wedeu
AS matter OF fact. Ruroede lied
atout Won Wedeil. the latter being on
MS way TO New York under the name
az Rosato spr'o. Won Wedell actually
sailed on the same boat in company
Nth the yer! men for whom Aucher wa
securing the passports The boat was
the BerGa nsfiord While the service dill
not permit the rcservists for whom
ATCher had secured the passports to
at farther than Sandy HOOK. il was.
OF course, ignorant OF the true identity
OF Rosato Sprio.
What followed Ruroede's confession
Was simple-but tragic for Won
Wedell. The British authorities We're
notihed. \ cruiser stopped the Ber-
Sensiiord in the North Atlantic on the
morning of January IL. Won Wedell
was taken OFF the steamer. still pro-
testing that he was RcSato Sprio
BY the irony of Fate, a German sub
marine torpedoed the cruiser as it was
bound for it's home base with Won
Wcdell in its Cuardroom.
II was u truly marvellous bit of act
ing that the Department of Justice in
vestiGator performed as he continued
10 pump" the German fake passport
agent. Rurocde. nevertheless, while
''N'' VIII 'he h'Nes'iSatoI' was not
fully responsive to the latter'S leads.
He lied deliberately as to the where
abouts of Won Wedell, but the false
hood was uttered because of a general
policy OF deceit even with the init
mates Of the bureau-not because OF
any suspicion of the investigator.
Won Wedell wasn't fool enough to
spend his own good money for pass
ports, was hc?" Auchcr asked, referring
TO the missing mans $4,000 expenditures
"PumpinS" the Spy.
Not quite" replied RurOede. He
got it from the fund"
Ruroede explained that the fund was
furnished by the German government.
Then he told of a captain" attached
10 the German embassy at Washing
ton This cantain he declared. had :,