The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-24
|NTELL|GEh men
REVEAL hun SPY
fcontinued from page ~

Continued from Page y
cities in these states. He next went
to Cuba, staying at the Habana hotel
spending most of his time with
Chicago family named Forschelmer-
He then came to Pensacola.
When first here he stayed at local
hotel. Next he went to Mobile, where
he secued employed tn Spring Hill col
lege, while he could look over the ter
ritory there. He returned to Pensa,
cola and for a time again and served
as clerk in a hotel and later visited
Harold, Florida. While here he spent
much time ostensibly as a magazine
writer.
The subject was known to claim
knowledge Of Spanish, in aqition 10
speaking German and English fuently.
| In his diary, it was learned that ne
corresponded with Princess Allce OIL
| Germany, and with a Fraulein Berta
Fleischhaoker, No. 1 Markus Strausse'
Berlin, Germany, writing in German.
He got information throufh to German
people. by seeking the intervention OF
Her Majesty, the Queen of The Neither
lands. He took particular interest in
| iotting down in his diary every event
| from an earthquake to fire or moD
| outbreak. which seemed to work
against American participation in the
l 49,
war.
| On January 26, of this year Won Pc
| trich and a woman visited the naval
reservation. More than one visit was
made there, through claiming cltlzen-
ship. passes were issued to him for ap-
parently good reasons for the trip. NO
notes could be found showing that ne
had written down information received
To ole visited the
on January %.
Mary Pickford, favorite among
screen stars was among Won Petrich
correspondents. After seeing movie,
he would sit down and write the star
congratulating her on her work lie
wrote such fascinating letters that
MANY of them We're answered, letters
having been found from Mary Pick
ford and others, and also photographs
from their private collections.
During examination by the govern
ment operatives. who knew all against
him that is contained in this article
and more. won Petrich would sit with
fears streaming down his cheeks and
plead that he was a loyal and patrl-
! otto citizen and had no connection
with Germany: that this was MS
adopted country and that he was more
} than willing to fight for it.
The amount of information he re-
ceived from PensacolianS who ATTENDED
spiritualStic meetings in Won Petrlcn :
d. room at the San Jose hotel, the names
: of many of whom are known to INT
government operatives, can only b.
coniectured. In this connection H.
gave out advice to people, amont
l whom was Holander, against go
l ! ing TO France His connection witt
This has not been established
3 Altered His Papers.
A close examination of the papers n
f presented showed unmistakable evi
T dence of alteration where the nam
William Won Petrich appeared, by som
{ fluid used for eradicatng ink mark
:, and in place of this, the name OF vo
D Petrich in his own handwriting wa
:, inserted A careful study land compaI
ison was made of the name on NJ
l. naturalization papers, and of his sig
nature on other correspondence, an
they Were found to be identical
II Sentenced to Years.
Won Petrich was sentenced to sery
five years in the state penitentiary b
Judge Bert Fish. He petitioned for
pardon later. aided by Pensacola a.
torneys who worked with no know
edge of his connection against tn
government. and succeeded in being r.
leased December IL, 1915. He Ms
. been convicted of forgery and snoo
- ing and wounding, but succeeded
= getting off from the latter two charg
e. through the German counsel at PEI
q sacola, Mr.. Rolfe. He went under II
- name of Paul Morton in this escapad
II All through the narrative runs tt
~ remarkable knowledge of the govern
ment operations of his work, who TO
/ lowed his every move and kept hi
OF under a surveillance which would ha'
as done credit to the much touted Ge
t. man secret service. His arrest at Pei
ut sacola by naval intelligence and d.
OK partment of justice operatives has en-
ed his career. He is now informed
ed Atlanta and faces many charges wht
10 released, if the government desires
ne push them.
m