New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
Collector for
German Bond
Owners Seized
Assistant Purser ON Nieuw
Amsterdam Cashed $4,000
in Coupons Here

Johannes Hendrix Woerkhoven, as
sistant purser on the liner Nieuw Am
sterdam, which was held up and thor
oughly searched for spies when it ar
rived here ten days ago, was arrested
yesterday under the trading with the
enemy act. He was arraigncd before
United States Commissioner Hitchcock
in the Federal Building, held under
$4,000 bail, and locked up in the
Tombs last night.
Woerkhoven, a native of Holland, is
charged with secretly bringing to this
country coupons of securities owned by
Germans, and by cashing them here
lending important financial aid to this
country's enemies. Woerkhoven admit
ted cashing interest bearing coupons
worth 5000, representing bonds val
ued at approximately 100000.
Scheme Long a Mystery
Woerkhoven's arrest, according to
United States Attorney Ben A. Mat
thews, is the first step in the solution
of the mystery regarding "the most
insidious form of aid to the enemy"
One of the strangest phases Of the
discovery is the fact that most of the
bonds brought here by Woerkhovcn
were war loan certificates issued by the
japanese government. Special signifi-
cance is attached to this large German
financial interest in issues of an allied
nation, in view of Germanys exploded
attempt to line up Japan against the
United States by the infamous alliance
with Mexico.
When the Holland America steam
ship Nieuw Amsterdam reached this
port on February there was started
one of the most searching investiga-
authorities here.
The search continued for more than
forty eight hours, and one steward was
arrested for bringing in a strange let
ter, thought to be in code. Woerkhoven,
it is alleged, has admitted that he
walked off the boat with bond coupons
worth $1,000 in his possession. Re-
ports have come to the authorities that
he may have brought in the valuable
slips Of paper fourteen in all, of $500
cach-hidden in cigars.
1t was known to the Federal authori-
ties that the purser had engaged in the
coupon traffic before this country en-
tered the war, and he was trailcd by
agents of the Army Intelligence Bu-
rcau. For ten days no evidence could
be obtained. Yesterday, when Wocrk-
hoven appeared at the banking house
of Boissevain &, Co.. "a Broad Street,
and sought to negotiate the sale of n
United Fruit Company "bearcr bond"
for $500, he was promptly arrested by
William II. Randolph. of the military
police.
Bought From Neutrals
Woerkhoven told United States At
torney Matthews that he had been
buying the coupons in Holland ever
since the war began at rate little
lower than their face value, and had
sold them here, pocketing the profits.
He denied that he bought the coupons
from Germans and Indignantly re-
pudiated the charge that he had aided
this country's enemies. Friends in
Rotterdam had sold him the coupons,
the prisoner stated.
After"he had been arraigned and was
about to start for the Tombs Wocrk-
hoven broke down and wcpt. He made
clean breast of his part in the affair
to Mr. Matthews, who, nevertheless.
asked that he be dealt with as severely
as the law allowed.
The government, he said, will urge
the maximum penalty of five years. i'm
prlsonment and $1,000 fine.