The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-11
Nine. Victorica, Confessed Sc
cret Agent, Swcars lie En-
. gagged Oversee Messenger.
ADMITS SHE'S DRUG USER
Was a Propaganda and Also
Had a Special Mission from
German Admiralty.

O'Leary, on trial for conspiracy TO Nio-
late the espionage law, was brought out
before Federal Judge Augustus n. Hand
yesterday when Nine. Marie X. de Vic
torica. a confessed employee of the I'M
perial German Government, told the jury
that at her suggestion O'Leary had fur
nished man to carry a message to the
German Consul in Amsterdam. The
meetings at which this arrangement had
been effected, the witness said, took
place in New York in March. 1917.
shortly after her arrival in this country.
Nine. Victorica Is herself under In
dictment on a charge OF conspiracy TO
commit treason, and she was reminded
repeatedly by counsel for O'Leary that
conviction under the indictment might
carry with II the death penalty. Her
testimony briefly was to the effect that
after a meeting with O'Leary. at which
Karl Roediger, a former officer of the
German navy, also under indictment,
was present, O'Lcary on her sugges-
ton had produced one Jay Willard Rob-
inson as a man to whom she could en-
trust messages to the German Consul
in Amsterdam.
In the course of her cross-examination
at the hands of O'Leary's counsel the
Governments star witness was forced to
admit that for more than twenty yeas
she had been habitualy addicted to the
use OF morphine. She refused to admit
however. that this had in any way af-
fected her memory or mentality, and
frequently during her examination
fenced verbally with counsel. In none
Of these exchanges did the witness ey-
hibit the slightest embarrassment be-
yond an occasional shrug OF her shoul-
srs when asked 10 repeat a question that
she had answered previously in another
form.
Asserts She Was Not u SPY.
At one point Arthur OLeary OF coun-
sci for jeremiah asked:
You understand that you are charged
with a crime that may carry with it the
Death penalty?'
YES" replied Nine. victorica.
DO you expect to suffer the death
penalty?'
81 cannot suffer the death penalty. be-
cause ! am not a spy. and am not an
agent. never have worked against the
Government OF the United States. l am
accused. but am innocent"
Nine. Victorica has been called the
Kaiser's master female spy" She is
q woman of about forty. blond. blue
eyed, stylish and of unmistakable cul-
ture She speaks English fluently and
With a decided French accent. and her
than Berlin.
At the opening Of her testimony Nine,
victorica said she was born in Germany /;
that she came to America on January 81,
1917, from Rotterdam: that she was in
the employ OF the German Government
IN the propaganda division of the For
eign Office. and that she was also on a
special mission for the German Adj
miralty. Further on in her testimony the
witness said that when she met O'Leary
he did not know who she was and she
volunteered that he did not know who
she was exactly yet.
Before adjournment was taken the
witness identified Jay Willard Robinson
a. the man O'Leary introduced and who
later went 10 Holland with nlessase
from her to the German officials there
and Karl Roediger. the German naval
oficer, whom she knew and referred 20
IN this country as Mr.. Schroeders. II
was during a conversation. the witness
said. between O'Leary. Schroeders and
herself that the suggestion was made
that It was necessary to send some one
to Europe who would carry 4 message
TO German officials in Holland.
Asserts O'Leary Was willing.
Nine. Victorica could not recall
whether the suggestion was first YER
bally made to O'Leary by the man know
as Schroeders or by herself. She said
O'Leary indicated his willingness to pro-
vide the messenger on the condition that
nothing In the communications should be
against tho interests OF the United States
She added that she gave Robinson a
written message in which she warned
the German authorities not to trust him
in anything involving an American ques-
ton. Nine. Victoricas testimony ran:
@. When did you meet the defendant
OLeary? A. In the beginning OF Feb
ruary. 1917.
@. Where? A. first met him in the
restaurant OF the Hofbrau House.
Q. Did you see him more than oncei
A. Yes.
Q. Who made the appointment? A.
Mr.. Schroders.
Q. Did O'Leary know who you were
A. He did not fer a long time, and he
does not know yet--quite.
Q. Where did you live in New York
A At the Waldorf and later at the
Spencer Arms.
@. Did OLeary visit you at tn,
Spencer Arms7 A. Yes.
J. Did the purpose of your visit here
and the subject of what YOU were doinl
ever come up with Mr. OI.eary2 A. Mr.
OLeary had the idea was working fol
another department than I was really
told him had an afflllation with the
German Government, but I never tolC
aim what ! was really travelling on.
Q. Did Roedigtr visit you? A. Yes.
@. And was C'Leary present? A. Yes
Just once.
@. Sta.o IRE conversation on that oc
casion. A. I cannot say whether myself
or Mr.. Schroeders (Roediger) was talk
ing about the situation in this country
hut one of us said that 1t was absolutel,
necessary for some one to go to tn,
other side TO give n statement Mr.
OLeary said he could not promise. bu
said he might get some one.
Q. BY the other sidet you mean
4. Amsterdam. Mr.. O'Leary said h,
could get some one II nothing was con
tained in the message against ths
United States. We had to give our wore
of honor.
Q. And after that did Mr.. oLeary
suggest the name OF any one?
After objection by OLeary's counse
the court permitted the witness to an
swer.
A. Mr.. o'Leary finally suggested tn,
name OF Mr.. Robinson and stated tn
conditions
q. What we're the conditions? A. Tha
nothing contained in the message shoul,
he against the United States. and tina
II anything happened to Mr.. Robinson
I was to take care OF his mother.
Tho witness added that she had pal,
Robinson a small amount OF money 70
his mother and that she had met him 1,
chop suey place later and tina
OLeary was present.
In reply to further questions Nine
Victorica said that the FIRST message sh