The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
WERNER HORNS CONFESSION.
Confession Obtained by Bureau of In
vcstigatiOn of Department OF Jus
ticc.

Werner Horn, the German Reserve
officer who tried to destroy the inter-
national bridge at Vanceboro, Maine,
was type of German that is all too
seldom found. He had been led to be-
lieve, by the infamous Won Papen,
that he was performing an actual
military operation against an enemy
of his country, and was told that by
tying the German colors to his sleeve
he was transformed from a criminal
into a German officer on military
duty.
Further than that, he could not
kring himself to sign his name to a lie
ON his honor as a German officer
and so his attempt to blow up the
bridge led him into the hands of Ca
madam justice
Horns confession is a most inter-
esting document 1t appears in print
for the first time in the Worlds Work
tor April, just published. The first
paragraph reads:
II, Werner Horn, after having been
advised that my extradition to Canada
has been asked for by the government
Of Great Britain and that anything
may say will or may be used against
me in an extradition proceeding by
the United States or in a prosecution
by the United States if it shall be
found that 1 have violated any of the
laws of that country and that I may
decline to talk at all or to answer any
particular questions, do voluntarily,
willingly and without any promises
other than that may case will be dealt
with by United States fairly, impair
TALLY; and in accord with law, make
this statement"
He then states that he was a Ger
man lieutenant in inactive service, and
that he was employed on a coffee
plantation in Central America when
the war began. Two hours after the
call to arms reached him he was on
his way. He travelled to New York,
back to Galveston, to New Orleans,
and finally back to New York before
finally giving UP efforts to secure pas
cage to Europe. In New York he met
Captain Won Papen, who, by skilful
lying, made Horn believe that it was
his duty as soldier to blow up the
Vanceboro bridge, over which mu-
nitions were being shipped to Hall
fax.
In debating his confession Horn re-
peated story which he had told
previously, and which had set posses
securing the Maine woods in search OF
Tommy" an imaginary. Irish ac-
complice. Horn. said this man had
met him on the Canadian side Of the
| bridge, and had given him the explo.
sives with which the bridge had been
damaged.
When Horn had finished his con.
| fessiOn, the officer to whom he had
dictated it added this sentence, II cer-
tify on my honor as a German officer
that the foregoing statements are
true"
The officer then asked Horn to sign
the statement. The German was non
plussed. He fumbled the paper, ran
his fingers through his hair, finally
pushed the confession back, grinned
sheepishly and said, rTommy."
You mean" replied the officer
that it's all true except the part
about Tommy" Horn said that tha,
was exactly what he meant. The Off
Ger then erased the period and added
to the sentence SO that it read. 81
certify on my honor as a German of
ficer that the foregoing statements are
true except as to 'Tommy-that 1 die
not buy the nitro glycerine, but re-
ceived it in New York and took it will
me in the suit case, cannot say from
whom 1 received it,"
This Horn signed and later, as q re
suit, he was turned over to Canadian
officials for trial and punishment.