The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-16
GERMAN SPY NOW N
BALTIMORE LOOKUP
Brother Detained az Wei aa EApyssood
Friend He Knew In
Germany.
FTASCE1E RELIEVES IN HIM
says She Knows He Has Been I'm This
Country Several Years-WYn RE
nounce Him III Spy as She Ts
american Through and Through"

Especial TO The Richmond virgtntan)
BaItim ore. Nd, Jan. ls.---Tn the
hands OF the attorney general OF the
United States now rests the fate of
Walter Sporrmann. former German
soldier. now the master spy of Prus-
STA, who 10 held In this city.
He was caught redhanded and then
frustra ted In an, attempt last week to
blow up q powder magazine at Camp
Morrison. Va His arrest within the
army and navy base area. near New.
port News by agents of the naval in
teiligence bureau has had az its sequel
the apprehension yesterday Of hia
brother. Frederick II. C. Sporrmann.
of baltimore. that OF his boyhooo
friend. Marius ARch, q Baltimore
allen, and finally. the disclosure OF
the identity of the mysterious woman
referred to In letters found in Sporr-
mans possession. She has proved to
be his fsnoee, Miss May stoop. a. vio-
LIN soioist. OF this city. now filing en-
gasemen In Washington hotels. She
believes Sporrmann innocent but de-
clares she will renounce him when the
cha rges against him are verified to her
satisfaction.
The third arrest. which occurred
today. while important hardly means
the prosecution of the prisoner. He
is Marius Asch. who lives here. He
10 German alien, who has taken out
first papers, an ardent admtrer ofthis
country, a subscriber to the Red Cross
and voluntary informer on his &C
auaintances who come under the shad-
ow OF suspicion. Three weeks ago
Waiter Sporrman visited Asch. who
was hts boyhood chum in BreIn er-
haven. Germany.
Sporrmann arrived hers this after
noon from Norfolk, having been de-
layed i'm Richmond. and with his
brother and Asch was put on the grill
In the ONCE of the United States mar
shall for several hours. After this he
was fed and taken. manacled. 10 the
incarcerated until Deputy United
States Attorney Latane has assembled
the evidence in its proper form. This
will then be forwarded to Washing
ton and the attorney general will set
In motion the wheels OF Justice.
Believes Him Innocent
Perhaps the most dramatic Incl
dent In connection with the case to-
day was the declaration by Miss Mary
N oop that she believed Sporrmann,
her husband 10 be. was innocent
II suppose l am the MYSTERIOUS wo-
man the letters referred to-" she
said. II have been engaged TO Wal
tor for quite while and I believe
him to be innocent. II It Ia proven
otherwise then. of course ! shall re-
nounce him.
Il saw In the paper today the state
ment that Mr.. sporrmAnn had land
ed in this country on q German boat
ut Newport about year ago. the
U-s1, and that he was . German naval
cficer. I know that he has been in
this country for six or sevsn years.
and have been acquainted with him
over three years. II was also said
that Walter had received large sums
OF money. don't believe this any more
than others Of the statements, because
know that at times he really needed
money. and was very anxious over his
affairs in this connection and that he
positively needed q position.
An American Through and Through.
II am an American through and
through. FIRST. last and all the time"
declared the girl with emphasis. "and
would not do n thing against my
country, and would break my en-
gegement with him and never speak to
him again II he was a spy. But
know that he il not and know that
he can prove that he Is not
Miss Stoops In decidedly pretty
brunette about twenty-five or twenty
three years old. of petite figure. and
very attractive. She was decidedly
agitated over the arrest of Spcrrmann.
She denied that her acquaintance
with Sporrmann extended over
period of but a few weeks. stating
that she had known him for about
three years, and that she had been
engaged to him for about q year. she
said
Why. only laat week he sent ms q
beautiful American dag from the camp
near Newport News. and I have never
heard him say y word against this
country. He Is q German. though,
ana for that reason / was opposed TO
him rofnR To thu IN M na