The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-16
WORST GERMAN SPY
CAUGHT AT NORFOLK
Lieut.. Walter SporIman, German
Imperial Navy, Caught in Attempt
To Blow Up Naval Aviation Maga-
zine Eight Unloyal Americans
And Aliens III Plot.

Government police have come
from Norfolk TO Baltimore with the
leader and most desperate of Ger
man spies in America.
Yesterday morning the prisoner,
Lieut.. Walter Sporrman, of the Ger
man Imperial Navy, who was caught
red-handed Saturday in an attempt
TO blow up the Naval Aviation Maga-
zine at Old Point Comfort, was lodg-
ed in the Baltimore city jail accom-
panied by several colleagues, who
were involved by letters and other
documents, found on the spy, who
wore the uniform of an American ar
my captain.
Meanwhile a net is slowly closing
in about no less than eight unloyal
Americans and aliens, among whom
are men OF prominence in New York,
Boston, and Baltimore, and also a
woman. about whom there is great
mystery. These eight have by no ac-
tion other than intimate acqualnt-
ance and meetings with Sporrman,
inrriminated themselves. end their
arrests will occur only after evidence
sufficient to convict them is found.
Lieut. Sporrman is said to have
lived in an apartment in West Bal
timore until several weeks ago. He
came to Baltimore, it is claimed,
soon after the German submarine u
53 put into New England in 1915.
Just after he left Baltimore to go to
Norfolk. United States agents raided
his apartments and found incrimi-
mating documents, German naval
uniform and several uniforms bear
ing the insignia of American Army
officers.
Unaware thai he was trailed ev-
eryWhere by secret agents of the
Cnited States. he paraded about in
the guise OF an American officer,
visiting CantOnnentS, mutations FAC
tories and aviation centers, proclaim
ing widely but with assumed discre-
ton, that he was working on spe-
cial mission. During this time, the
+ American agents connected up with
many Of his cOwOrkers.
Sporrman has a brother, Frederick
H. c. SporTman, who until last
Thursday, had rooms at 315 North
Payson street, Baltimore. but who
changed his quarters on that day to
a place on Montrose street, West
Baltimore Frederick SpOrrman has
been under surveillance since the out
break of hostilitles between America
and Germany, and had committed no
unlawful act until he removed from
the Payson street address. United
States Marshal Stockham, on learn
! ing Monday that Sporrman had NOV
ed set out to arrest him. Whether
Lieut.. Sporrman, while in Baltimore,
shared an apartment with Frederick
Sporrman would not be divulged by
government officials.
That the German lieutenant is, or
was, at the head of the spy system
n tho limited States is indicated 4hy
documents found in his possession at
the time of his arrest. Among these
were statements attestlng the facl
that he had been paid enormous
sums by Count Won Bernstorff, for
merly German Ambassador, and
CAPTAIN Boy-Ed, the attache VINO
was deported before America enter
ed the war These letters and state
ments refer to a series of incidents
included in the recently exposed
sabotage program of the Teutons.
Some of these outrages, 1t is sald,
extend outside the boundaries OF the
United States and into Canada:
These letters carried the names OF
at least eight persons, with whom
Sporrman is supposed to have been
on more than friendly terms.
One of the names, it was reported
Monday. was that of hitherto un-
suspected and wealthy Baltlmorean.
The special agent of the Department
of Justice, Marshl Stockham, and
Lieut.. Frederick Dorton, of the
Naval Bureau of Intelligence, all is
sued official denials that there was a
Raltimorean. other than the German
lieutenant's brother, listed among
the acuuaintanceship. Each quail
fed their denials by adding mot to
our knowledge