New-York tribune., 1918-12-07
1Uo Indicted Here for Treason in Plot
TO Send Information 10 Germany

the furthering and carrying OH Of it's
war against the United States.
"Sair Hermann Wcsscls, from April
6, 1917, to May 2, 1919, agreed and con-
spired with Maria K de Victorca, VIII
lard j. Robinson, Jeremiah A. O'Lcary,
John 7. Ryan and divers other persons
whose names arc to the grand jurors
unknown; that said Willard j. Robin
son (who had heretofore, on March "a,
1917 left the United States for the
Netherlands to deliver secret messages
to the imperial German government,
us officials, agents and rcprtscnta-
tlves), should deliver said messages to
the imperial German government, its
oihclals, agents and reprcscn tatives,
and should bring from the imperial
German government, its officials,
agents and representatives to the
United States secret information and
instructions for the use of said Wes-
sells and said de Victorica in their act
ing, as secret agents for and spies for
and secret representatives Of the i'm
perlal German government in the fur
thering and carrying on of it's war
against the United States"
After tracing the funds used Dy
Vessels in his operations the indict-
ment charges that on July 7, 1917, he
received two confidential code com
municatlons from Nine. de Vctorica,
which had been forwarded to her by
the German Naval Intelligence Ser
vice. These messages we're on two
sheets of paper which were brought
into this country by Willard J. Robin
son and contained secret information
and Instructions for Vessels for his
use, as directing head of the Tcutonic
espionage system in the United States.
These messages were delivered to
Nine. Nictorica at a fashionabl Long
Island hotel, whore she was staying
during the summer of 1917. At that
time she was being traced by Mr.. and
Mrs: Harry Jentzer of the Department
OF Justice.
Toy Block Conspiracy
The Indictment in charging that Wes-
sells conspired to bring information and
explosives into the United States in toy
blocks names Captain William Reising,
Of 12l5 Eighty-lisst Street, Brooklyn,
as the man he approached for advice
Relsjng is a former superintendent of
the Hansa Line, in Brooklyn. He was
taken in custody a week ago on a
Presidential warrant as a dangerous
enemy alien, and is now being detained
at the Raymond Street jail. On this
point the Indictment charges:
That IN the prosecution, perform
ance and execution Of said treason and
OF said traitorous and reasonable ad
herring and giving aid and comfort to
SAID enemy of the United States said
Hermann Vessels on July 10, 1917 (be-
'ng time when the United States were
at war with the imperial German gov
eminent aforesaid), in the County of
kln@s, State of New York and Eastern
District of New York. unlawfully.
feloni iously wilfully, traitorously, trea-
sonably, knowingly and with intent to
adhere 20 and give aid and comfort to
the imperial German government afore-
SAID, as an overt and manifest act of
sald treason, requested William Reising
or Information as TO ways and means
OF importing toy blocks from Switzer-
.and, the intent ana purpose of said
Vessels being to collect information as
to ways ana means of secretly and
ciandestlnely introducing into the
United States explosives and ingredi-
ents of explosives concealed in the toy
blocks, foH his use in acting as a secret
gent for and spy for and secret rep
resentative of the imperial German
government il; the furthcring and car
ryinS on of it's war against the United
Statcs'
The indictment against Vessels con-
GUIDES as follows:
Contrary to said Hermann Wessels's
duty of alIeg glance to the United States
and to the form Of the statute of the
same in such case made and provided
and against the peace and dignity of
ehe United States (Soction l of the
r'ted States Criminal Code)'