New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Held
lnPlot Against
British Fleet
Arrest Expected to Lead to
Seizure of German Spy
Paymaster

Nine. Marie Victorica, who is charged
with directing system of intrigue here
designed to cause the destruction of the
British high seas feet and foster dis
content among the Irish people, was
taken in custody. fast night and sent to
the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital
by Captain Roger B. Hull, of the New
York Port Enemy Alien Bureau.
When Nine. Victorica was appre-
hended, at fashionable hotel on Long
Island, her maid and private secretary,
Maggie Sullivan, a Sim Feiner, said to
have assisted in her activities, also was
taken in custody and sent by Captain
Hull to the Florence Crittenton Home,
to be detained as material witness.
Federal agents, through admissions
made by the prisoner. are convinced
that lieutenant commander of the
German navy who was closely asso-
ciated with Nine. Victorica in her
scheme is the German paymaster in
America. This man is being sought
now by agents, of the Department of
Justice and probably will be taken in
custody to-day.
Nine. Victorica was arrested at the
direction of Chief Charles de Woody,
of the Department of Justice, after an
investigation lasting months. She
came to the United States on the Swed
ish hsteamship Bergensfjord in Janu-
airy of 1917 and was sent by Wilhelm
strasse, the government charges, for
the express purpose Of spreading dis
content among the Irish and enlisting
them in her scheme to bring about the
destruction of the British navy. She
had an unlimited supply of money
from Berlin, it is alleged, and as
transferred to her from Germany
through brokers in this city.
Plot Against Navy Barred
The first information given to the
government concerning the woman and
her high position in the employ of the
Wilhelmstrassc was gained through the
confession Of German plotter now
serving a prison term at Atlanta. This
man said she was sent here to spread
propaganda among the Irish against
England and the United States and
that she managed fund Of money to
be used in aiding Irish newspapers.
Nine. Victorica after her arrival in
America spent money lavshly in hold
ing Irish meetings. She is known to
have paid money to we'll known speak
ers and agtators to stir up feeling
against England. After gaining the
confidence of the Irish leaders she laid
before them her plans for the destruc-
tion Of the British navy.
This scheme called for young Irish
men to enlist in the British navy and
place bombs of the type constructed
by DR.. Sheele in the engine rooms of
battleships. 1t is understood that many
volunteered, and their passage to Eng
land was paid by Nine. Victorica. Scot
land Yard arrested a number Of Irish
men coming from America to enlist in
the navy some time ago, and Federal
officials are of the opinion these men
were sent across by Nine. Victorica.
Claims Chilean Citizenship
The woman is highly educated. She
is q graduate of the University of
Heidelberg and studied political econ
omy at the University of Zurich, Switz-
erland.
When taken in custody Nine. Vic
torca was brought before Assistant
United States Attorney John C. Knox
and was interrogated for hours. Her
stories were conflicting, and several
times, when confronted with her own
statements, she was forced to acknowl-
edge she had not told the truth. The
point which she insisted upon most was
that she was not German citizen, but
q Chilean.
She first married when sixteen years
old in Chile, and her husband soon
died. Then she travelled, about Eu-
rope, and while in Switzerland met DR..
jose Victorica, professor of chem
istry, to whom she was married at
Hamburg by the Chilean Consul Gen
cral on October 9, 1916. 1t is because
Chilean citizenship. Four months after
her marriage, she said, Victorica dis
appeared, taking with him large sum
Of money she had placed in his name in
! q Berlin bank.