Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-01-17
Appropriating
a Passport
By WARREN MILLER
copyrIght. ls17. western Newspaper Union

am an American citizen of French
extraction, my name being L'Homme-
dieu. In America have always been
called "Lommedoo." Both my father
and mother were born in France, and
| am not only French in appearance
but speak French fiuently.
In 1914 I was travelling abroad and
was in Berlin when the worlds war
broke out.
l hurried to the foreign office to get
my passport put in order to leave Ger
many, but was obliged to wait several
DAYS for it. While waiting l formed
the acquaintance Of man named
Walker, who claimed to be an Ameri-
can.
The day I received the passport, on
returning with 1t to my hotel, met
him in the office. I was so pleased
that I told him all about finally being
permitted to leave Germany and ne
congratulated me warmly. He asked
me when would leave and I told him
that I would 60 'the next day on the
only through train that ran between
Berlin and Brussels
The next day, when I reached the
station, was met by Mr.. Walker. He
was carrying suitcase and told me
that he was going on the train. He
took me to compartment of one or
the coaches, in which there were eight
seats. Six of the seats were occupied
and Walker and l took the remaining
two seats. Then the guard-we In
America call him the conductor
locked the door. AS he did so saw q
look of intelligence pass between him
and Mr.. Walker. What it meant !
had no idea.
At the first stop several passengers
got out and the guard locked the door
at once, preventing anyone else from
entering the compartment. Within an
hour after leaving Berlin Walker and
the remaining passengers, excepting
one man and myself, got out. The
train was crowded and persons repeat.
eddy tried to induce the guard to let
them enter our almost empty compart-
ment; but he kept it locked, evidently
telling them his reason for doing 80,
which could not hear.
As soon as we were Off again the
sole remaining passenger in the COM
partment besides myself took out a
cigarette case and offered 1t to me. ]
took a cigarette and he another. !
noticed that he helped himself from
the other side Of the case from which
I took my cigarette. leaned back In
my seat, and feeling very comfortable,
closed my eyes, and in a few minutes
fell asleep.
I was awakened by the guard an
,nouncing that we were at the border
and "all out" He was obliged to give
me a good shaking before arousing me.
I was alone, the other passenger hav'
departed. seized my hand baggage
and went to the room where passen-
gers were showing their passports, OF
their permission to leave Germany,
! and put my hand In my pocket to take
out my own passport It was moi
there.
As SOON as I could get an officers
attention I told him had been robbed
| Of my passport. He asked me my
name, and after an investigation told
! me that a man named LHOmmedieu
had passed out.
Then knew that my fellow passen'
ger had put me to sleep with a ciga'
rette prepared for the purpose and had
taken my passport.
wus taken back to Berlin and held
on suspicion Of being spy till had
convinced the authorities that was
what represented myself to be, then
with the assistance Of the American
minister, I was permitted to leave Der
lin, and after great difficulties at last
found myself at my hotel in Paris.
A few days after reaching the CAPT
tai Of France ] received a card which
bore the name Of noted French
sta aesman. Wondering If there were
not some mistake, went to the sailor
to meet him and found man about
my size and build, though he would no
be mistaken for me.
"Mr. L'Hommediet," he said, ~ have
been waiting for some time for yol
to register your name ut Paris hotel
am indebted to you for getting me
out Of Berlin, where I happened II
be, unknown to the German govern
ment, at the breaking out Of the war
and desire to crave your pardon To-
having caused you Inconvenience.
Inconvenience
"Hear me. A friend of mine whit
passed under the name Of Wake
knew Of your trouble about your pass
port. 1t occurred to him that you ant
I were about the same size, our eye
and hair were the same color. Unde
my own identity I'could never get on
Of Berlin. Walker engineered the plaI
to rob you Of your passport. Yol
would only be delayed, while woult
be considered an important captur
and would suffer long Imprisonment
and heaven knows what other torture
Walker guided you to the compart
ment we occupied. Those who occu
kiad ~ 1xyaro ex,y1Dofbfzoro