Evening star., 1918-01-15
Walter Spoermaah Believed
to Be ImpIicatedh Berns-
torff D. C. Isifieue.
PAPERS IN BALTIMORE
ROOMS SEIZED BY U. S.
Documents Taken by Federal Agents
May Reveal Activities Of Wash
ington Aliens-Othefs Arrested.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va, January 15.-walter
Spoermann, arrested near; Morrison, Va,
on the charge of attempting to set fire
to the Army magazine aear that place,
and who was brought to Richmond and
held in the city Jail until this morn
ing, is being taken to Washington this
afternoon in charge of federal officers.
Spoermann was in charge of two de-
tectives aboard the train. leaving Rich
mond at 1885 o'clock today. The pris-
oner was interviewed before he was
taken to the railroad station.
In reply to questions. Spoermann said
he had no regular place of residence,
having lived in New York. Philadel-
phia and Baltimore in recent years.
When asked where he stopped in
Norfolk. he said he always put up at
the Monticello" He had forgotten that
the hotel had recently been destroyed
by fire.
When it was suggested that he may
be suspected of being one of the crew
OF the Deutschland, the submarine that
made two trips to America, he thought
fny. fully frowned. That sets me think
when the U-boat arrived. and met sew
eral of the crew. Perhaps they think
may resemble one of them"
Documents Seized in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE. January 1.-Two large
boxes, filled with documents belong
ing to Lieut.. Walter Spoermann, al
legged German spy arrested at Norfolk
and understood IN ho op b;o xx,a,, 20
Baltimore for a hearing in the federal
court. were seized by the police in
house in West Fayette street. The
papers were found in the room Of
Marius Asch, thirty-one years old,
German enemy alien. Asch was ar
rested.
Frederick H. C. Spoermann, brother
OF Spoermann, was taken into custody
last night. He denies having had any
connection with his brothers alleged
activities.
Police Notified by Asch.
1t was learned later that it was Asch
had effects belonging to Walter Spoer-
mann in his possession. The seizure
and Asch's arrest followed.
The boxes contained glasses. jugs.
cards. letters. clippings from German
newspapers and German books. Asch
also. impaired information of a yalu-
able nature to Marshal Stockham, con-
corning the attitude toward this gov
ernment of certain enemy aliens.
A woman is among those under sus-
picion Asch told Marshal Stockham that
waiter Spoermann had left his belongings
with him few days after Camp Meade
was opened, where Spoermann took a po-
sition. Asch admitted being on intimate
terms with Walter Spoermann and his
brother Frederick. He attended school in
Germany with Lieut.. Spoermann, he said.
Arrest of Spoermann.
NORFOLK. Va. January 15.-N Naval
officers left here last night
for Baltimore with Waller spoermann.
suspected of being an etive figure in
plots launched here b3aCapt. Boy-Ed.
the former Germany Military attache.
and believed to have bEasa captain In
the Germany army. A16pfding to the
story .unofticially told re, the man
Of attempting to blow ;. a magazine
at the unfinished Arm fviation field
under construction near Newport News.
The prisoner will be-turned over to
officers of the Department of Justice
At Baltimore for hearing SO far the
only charge formally Ddged against
him is understood to be that he is a
dangerous enemy alien. -
Documents found on his person and
in his rooms in Baltimare, Nd. how
nection with Boy-Ed and former Ger
nan Ambassador Bernstorff, and to in
:riminate In spy plot persons in
Baltimore and other cities.
nents are withheld. but it is under
stood that they Will lead to a number
IF arrests within a fewtdays.
suspected we4Es Ago.
spoermann's activitN are said to
have first attracted atte6tion of naval
officers maky weeks ago.
but his arrest was defA9ed until addi-
.ional evidence could bAigathered Of
icers followed him night and day.
however, the quest leading through
several cities and even to at least two
Army camps. Frequently. according to
he story. the prisoner posed as an
,ffcer of the United States Army. :.
Finally he visited the great Army and
Navy base at Hampton roads, but be-
'ore that a young naval agent, posing
Is a friend of Germany, had made him
,elf acquainted with Spoermann. The |
,fficer followed his man closely in New
bort News ana Hnally 10 Ine aviation \
ield, four miles north of the city. |
where the arrest was made.
Started Before War.
Documents found on the prisoner and +
n his rooms at Baltimore are alleged to |
how that Spoermann. begar7 hisLwork
n this country some time before the
United States entered th war In one i
....r from, Rov-Fd fhere is eo;5 20
ave been reference to-$90.000 advanced |
;poermann by the CHIEF of the German
py system in the Unitgd States.
There are reports that it has been es-
7nited States on The Gesman submarine
--53. which visited NeWport, r. l., more
han year ago and I&Ser sank a num-
er of merchant ships of the coast. on
ials, however. would issot confirm this.