New-York tribune., 1918-07-17
Charge geHearst
Sold
Secrets ofU.S.
Officials Say White House
Confidence Was Violated
for German Cash

Alfred L. Becker, Deputy State At
torney General. who is conducting the
investigation into the purchase of "The
Evening Mail" by the German imperial
government, to-day will examine a cor
respondent who worked for Hearst in
Washington. According to information
in possession of Mr.. Baker, this man
supplied DR.. Bernhard Dernburg, Count
Won Bernstorff's financial representa-
tive, with inside information from the
White House and the State Depart
ment for $50 week.
This information, Mr. Becker has
been told, was confidential information
given to correspondents by the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State. The
Deputy Attorney General would not
reveal the source Of his information.
Those who are investigating "The
Mails" slush fund are now convinced
there was another store of German
bribe money in the country, entirely
independent of that which was lavished
on "The Mail" Chief De Woody, of
the Department of Justice, is now at
work on the case and important de-
velopments are expected this week
The Federal campaign to stamp out
the menace of German controlled
press in America will result in the
seizure of an important and influential
newspaper in the Middle West by the
Alien Property Custodian within a few
days. The paper has been fully inves-
tigated. and conclusive evidence of it's
German ownership is in the hands Of
the Federal authorities.
Editors Questioned
The Federal Grand Jury continued
it's investigation yesterday. Frank
Parker Stockbrdge. former managing
editor of "The Evening Mail" who was
questioned for hours on Monday, was
the first witness. He was followed by
Mr.. Cullen, the present managing edi-
tor. G.. A. Lewis, who was associated
with DR.. Rumely on "The Mail" was
another witness. He came here from
Indiana several weeks ago, and is ex-
pected to throw interesting light on
the Rumely method of education.
editor of the New York "Staats-Zei-
tung," who was employed by Captain
Franz Won Papen as a propagandist
was also in the Federal Building, and
it is understood he will later be brought
before the grand jury. Won Skal's s
name has been mentioned frequently
since the investigation started. He
was born in Germany in 1854, and from
his tenth year was educated in the
Royal Prussian Military Academy. He
was commisso oned a second lieutenant
when he was seventeen and served six
years in the German army. After he
resigned in 1877 he came to the United
States.
teacher and laborer, and later, when
he had acquired good knowledge of
English, he became bookkeeper and
commercial correspondent. In 1890 he
obtained a position on the staff of the
"Staats Zeitung," and served as its
managing editor from 1899 to March
9. 1906, when he was appointed Com
missioner of Accounts by Mayor Nc
Clellan.
Got Won Paper Checks
lie is member Of the German
Liederkranz, the Arion Society, Eichen-
kranz. New York Turn Verein and Ger
man Press Club, of which he was presi-
dent for four years
In 1916 Won Skal headed a committee
of Germans formed to present to the
people of Germany book containing
thousands Of newspaper clippings ex-
tolling the voyages of the undersea
merchantmen Deutschland, a project
heartily Endorsed by Count Won
Bernstorff.
When the effects of Captain Won
Papen were seized by the Federal in
vestigators large number of check
stubs bearing Won Skal's name were
found. In explaining these he said:
"I was engaged by Captain Won Papen
to do certain work. mostly journal Site
and clerical For this work was paid
and every check was deposited in the
Yorkville Bank to my credit"
After the outbreak of the war in
1914 he became American CORRESPOND.
ent for "Der Tag" of Berlin. In one
of his articles he wrote: Thousands
of German families arc making ready
~ 1ooyo marian M -