New-York tribune., 1918-07-14
Hearst's Former
Employe Called in
Spy Plot Inquiry
Government Believed to
Have Learned Identity of
Men Higher Up

That the Federal authorities have
discovered the identity of the men
higher up in the plot to send news
papermen as spies to England to locate
the British grand feet and commun-
cate its whereabouts to German agents
in Holland, was indicated yesterday
when Ben A. Mathews, Assistant United
State District Attorney, appeared be-
fore Judge Martin I. Manton in the
Federal District Court and asked for
writ summoning Albert O. Sanders
and Charles N. Wunnenberg, now in
prison, before the Federal Grand Jury
The name of w. L. :Wirbelauer, a
silk and dye manufacturer Of Paterson,
N. j., has been mentioned in connec-
ton witt. the investigation being car
RED on. Sanders was working for Will
lam L. Hearst as dramatic critic when
he was apprehended, charged with be-
ing the leading spirit in the plot. Wun-
nenberg, marine engineer, pleaded
guilty with Sanders in the Federal Dis
trlct Court in March, 1917. Their plea
was a disappointment to the Federal
prosecutors, as they expected in the
course of the trial to get the men
higher up.
Heavy Sentences Asked
Judge John C. Knox, who was then
Federal attorney, asked that severe SEN
tences be imposed because the plea of
guilty was meant to conceal the power
ful forces behind the plot. The men
were sentenced to two years in prison
and fined $4,000 each. George Bacon
and Charles Hastings, newspaper re-
porters, who were used as agents of
the ring in Europe, were sentenced to
serve one year each.
Bacon and Hastings were apprehend-
ed abroad and brought here for trial
1t developed that their work was to OBJ
tain information and forward it by
means OF invisible ink to the German
master spy in Holland Of this plot
Judge Knox said:
"This enterprise is but link in a
series Of wilful, deliberate and pre-
meditated violations of American laws
to serve the purposes of Germany"
In the application presented by Mr.
Mathews yesterday it was stated:
THAT there is now being made an
investigation looking to the prosecu-
ton of W. L. Wirbelauer for alleged
violation of Section 13.
THAT Charles N Wunnenberg and
<AiUCIC ". OduuGTS are NOW cOnnNCQ IN
the state penitentiary at Trenton in
the custody of the warden, and are, in
the deponent's opinion, necessary wit
nesses in the aforesaid matter"
May Appear Tomorrow
The appearance Of the men is asked
for tomorrow, when it is understood
they will simply be brought into the
grand jury room to be identified by a
new and mysterious government wit
ness.
The section of the criminal code
which Wirbelauer is suspected of har-
ing violated prohibits the sending of
military expeditions or enterprises
from the United States to countries
with which we are at peace.
Wlrbelauer was arrested on June 10
and held in $4,000 bail by the United
States Commissioner.
Mr.. Sprague, of the Enemy Alien
Bureau. said yesterday that while he
was investigating the case of Otto
kruhl, suspected German agent now
intcrned at Camp Oglethorpc, he dis
covered the latter knew man named
Wirbelauer in Paterson. Kruhl when
arrested had letters of credit from
Berlin, and it is understood he re-
ceived more than $4,000 from Wirbe
lauer on these. 1t is also suspectcd
that Wirbelauer advanced money to
Sanders to send the newspaper men to
England to keep track Of ship sailngs.
Wirbelauer is a naturalized citizen
of Russian descent. He is about fortv
years old and has wife and three
children.