The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-15
Two Boxes of Documents
Captured in a Balti-
more House
THREE ARRESTS
HAVE BEEN MADE
Walter Sporrmann, a Broth
er, Frederick, and
Marius Asch

Baltimore, Md, Jan. 1.-two boxe
filled with documents belonging to Wal
ter Sporrman, the alleged German spy
arrested at Norfolk, were seized by th'
police in the room of Marius Asch, q
German, here. Asch was arrested. Fred
erick II. G. Sporrman, brother OF Walter
was arrested last night.
! Norfolk, Va. Jan. l5.--Nayal intelli'
gence officers left here last night for
Baltimore with Walter Sporrman, sus-
pected of being an active figure in plots
launclAd here by Captain Boy-ed the
former German military attache, and be-
lieved to have been captain in the
Germany army According to the story
lunoflicially told here, the man was ar
rested Saturday while in the act of at
tempting to blow up magazine at the
unfinished army aviation field under con-
struction near Newport News
The prisoner will be turned over to
officers of the department of justice at
Baltimore for hearing. So far the only
charge formally lodged against him is
understood to be that he is dangerous
enemy alien.
Documents found on his person and in
his rooms in Baltimore, Nd, however,
are declared to reveal his connection with
Bowed and former German Ambassador
Bernstorff, and to incriminate in spy
plot persons in Washington, Baltimore,
and other cities. Details of the contents
of the documents are withheld, but it
is understood that they will lead to a
number of arrests within a few days.
Sporrman's activities are said to have
attracted attention of naval intelligence
officers many weeks ago, but his arrest
was deferred until additional evidence
could be gathered. Officers followed him
night and day, however, the quest lead
ng through several cities and even to
1t least two army camps. Frequently, |
according TO the story. the prisoner posed |
Is an officer of the United States.
Finally he visited the great army and |
iavy base on Hampton Roads, but be-
ore that a young naval agent, posing
is a friend of Germany, had made him
elf acquainted with Sporrman. The of
icer followed his man closely in New
'ort News and finally to the AVIATION
eld, four miles north of the city. where
he arrest was made.
Documents found on the prisoner and
n his rooms at Baltimore are alleged to
his country some time before the Unit I!
d States entered the war. In one letter
rom Boy there is said to have been
aference to 100000 advanced Sporrman
Y the chief of the German spy system
the United States.
There are reports that it has been es- II
ablished that Sporrman came to the
nited States on the German submarine
53, which visited Newport, r. l., more
ian a year ago and later sank number
merchant ships off the coast. Off
ais, however would not confirm this,
porrman was closely questioned by Off
ais while confined in the Jail here, but /
was said that little information was
,ined. An effort is said to have been
ade to connect him with the New
ears day fire here which laid waste
'arly two city blocks, but apparently
ithout success.
The fact that naval intelligence officers 4
ere handling the case led to the belief 4
re that the first of Sporrman's activi- b
IS which came to the attention of gov n
nment agents was at a naval base or c,
alton. v