New-York tribune., 1919-01-22
Sinn Fein Leader
Indicted Here on
Treason Charge
John T. Ryan, Buffalo Law
yer, Accused of Aiding
Nine. Nictorica in Plot
10 Obstruct War Plans

John T. Ryan, the Buffalo attorney
and Sim Fem agitator who is alleged
to be q spy, as indicted yesterday by
the Federal Grand Jury for treason.
He is a fugitive from justice and, al
though every investigating agency of
the government has sought to capture
him since May, his whereabouts is not
known.
Ryan, who performed distinguished
service in the Philippine campaign Of
the Spanish-Anerican war, WAS prom
lnent in Democratic politics in Buffalo
before his fight. He was commits
stoned 2 captain OF infantry for his
work in the Philippines.
The indicting instrument, which
contains two counts, charges that from
April g. 1917, to December %, 1918,
Ryan aided Nine. Marie X. de Victorica,
the alleged German spy, who is now
held at Ellis Island in carrying out
plans designed to convey information
OF military value to Germany and OBJ
s,rute ths war programme Of the
United States. 1t is further alleged
that during this period Ryan not only
consplred with Nine. Victorica, but
also advanced her money to carry out
her intrigue
Flight to Mexico Suspected
The Indictment was obtained by
George W. Taylor and Robert p.
stephenson, Assistant United States
attorneys, who said yesterday that
~ nyan was an important figure in the
ieutonlc espionage ring in America.
Mn. Taylor said Ryan may be in Mex
lco, because it is known that shortly
before the capture of Nine. Victorica
was IN communication with the
German Ambassador in Mexico CITY.
VINO mad Iuil knowledge Of the work
OF Ryan in America The fugitive
Spe9hs Spanish.
The indictment charges that in The
spring Of 1917 Jeremiah A. OIeary
brought Ryan down to the Hotel Mas
sau at Long Beach, where he intro
duced him to Nine Victorica, who had
peen sent to this country as spv bv
Germany, and that thereafter RYAN
ana ana she mad frequent conferences. At
Vhese conferences, it is a,Ie~cd. tho
question of obtaining aid for Irish
freedom from Germany was discussed
1t is charged that subsequent to
ehese conferences Ryan, with Victorica
ana OLeary, visited the home of a
man MAJ, named Hurley on Riverside Drive.
ne purpose OF this meeting, accord
NtiItul, was TO secure
,ne services of Hurley as a messenger
20 go TO Germany for Victorica With
Information of military value. This
was on July 20, 1917. Hurley has
never been identified by the autbori-
/ ueS, and the success or failure of his
mission is not known.
SPY Fund of $4,000 Alleged
Inc indictment further alleges that
nyah advanced 81 500 to Victorica to
aiq o,7 her IN her work, and conspired with
Leary, Robinson and Representatives
O. 'he GERMAN government in Sweden,
SPAN and Switzerland to keen her
IDENTITY secret while she was in the
United States acting as a spy.
IN the summer of 1917, after RYAN
mad advanced money TO Victorica. il is
slleged, the pair sent g MESSENGER
known as Jerry" to Mexico CITY to
obtain $4,000 from the German Am
basSador for Victorca. This messen.
ger returned with the money, but Nine.
Nlctorlca was arrested before he could
turn 1t over to her. It is understood
mat part Of the money was delivered 20
Ryan and was used by him in his fight.
During the early part of the war
Ian was active in anti-British agita-
ton, and presided at many Irish meet
lngs. On August 9, 1915. he was chair
man of meeting in Buffalo where the
io'e S!i iNoSSI Easement was the priD-
clpal speaker When Won Der Goltz
and Captain Hans Tauscher, German
spies, were tried for the Welland
Canal plots. Ryan, who had paid the
plotters, was one of the leading wit
nesses. He said at the time the money
was turned over to him as an attorney.
and his part of the transaction was
proper and legal
Formerly Lived in New York
He was associated in law practice
With stephen O'Gorman in the Mutual
LIE Building at Buffalo ind lived at
IS Prospect Avenue in the same city.
Ryan is not married and little is known
OF his relatives. The man was born
at Brookline, Mass. but has lived the
greater part of his life in New York.
Thousands Of circulars have been
sent out by the Department of Justice
with the following description of RYAN:
Height. it.. 10 in; weight 1870
pounds; face full; nose, African; chin.
oval; double appearances; neck, short:
ears, large; forehead, high and broad;
eyes, large, almost round fairly far
apart; may or may not wear small
mustache or Van Dyke beard; almost
baldon top of head; hair dark brown
tlnged with gray; age, firty- five, stout
build; carries his head slightly for
ward"
CLERGYMAN CHARGES Cr,reTtv