South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-25
No RELATIVES Of
ALLEGED SPY
ARE LOCATED
John 0evint, in Jail Here For
Enemy Activity, Hangs
Self With Thong.

When John Dewitt, alleged agent
OF the German government. hanged
himself in his cell at the South
Bend police station Sunday after
noon. ne apparently successfully
covered up any further Information
In regard 10 his employment in the
interests Of the kaiser's government
that was already in the hands OF
the police at the time OF his arrest,
three days ago.
The dead body Of Devint was
found by the police in a corner Of
his cell Sunday night at 1880 O'Clock.
The body is now at the morgue Of
Nelson +. Jones. where it will be
held pending further investigation
by the police.
Devint committed suicide some
time Sunday afternoon between 3
o'clock and 1880 o'clock.
Devint was 40 years Of age.
lie was "a citizen Of Hungary, un-
married so far as the authorities
were able 10 determine. his only
relatives reside ia Hungary. When
he arrived in this country he came
direct 10 South Bend and has been
boarding at the residence of John
Gruber. y. Eddy st.
Carried Death Material.
Like all true agents Of Wilhelm
strasse. Dewitt carried with him the
implements for self destruction.
When searched by the local police
upon his arrest last week, he carried
with him a short strip OF leather and
rope. about u inches long These
were not removed from his person as
they were innocent enough looking.
IL was with the strips of leather
and rope tied TO shoe strings from
his high top shoes that he lost his
Identification with the German sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Gruber claimed TO know little
of the man and refused to make
any arrangements for the burial OF
the body when interviewed by
Sergt. Peter Rudynski of the local
police force Sunday night. The
body was removed 10 the Nelson l..
Jones mOrgue.
Bcgs TO b. Freed.
Saturday night Dewitt begged to
be freed from confinement at the
JAIN according to Officers Charles
Eambo and Nick LaskowsH who
are stationed at police headquarters
About p. m. Sunday Ray Fieldman
and Jim Grant who were arrested
for assau and battery, and robbery,
respectively and placed IN the same
cell room with Devint. The latter
was locked within a cell that led
To a runway which connected with
the cells occupied 10y FeFdman and
Grant Grant talked 10 Devint and
was gradually informed OF the facts
which led 20 Devints arrest.
well. why in HI. didn't YOU
buy some thrift stamps and help
the cause along was Grants
query.
You know that they would do to
YOU over ina your country don't YOU.
They wouldn't ask You 10 help them.
but they'd just come i'm and take
your property. II they wanted it,"
continued Grant.
Dewitt did not reply but turned
his back on Grant. according TO the
former.
Found Dead.
Grant and FeHdman then retired
90 their hunks and slept until about
1-3O o'clock when their insistent
rapping upon the cell bars with a
tin cup brought Officer Rambo 10
the cell room.
say 30, spring us loose from
these diggin's will YOU" they chorus
ed.
There's a carp in here and we
want 20 he changed
Officer Nick LaskowSki went tc
the cell and found Devint huddled
against the bars Of his cell where
ne had fallen when his body broke
the shoe strings holding his body
above the floor. Laskowski cut the
thonE from Devint's neck and vain
lv attempted 10 resuSciate him. Cor
oner Swantz pronounced Dewitt dead
by his own hand. few minutes