New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Nation Wide
Spy Round Up
Begins Here
A Held in Connection With
u. S. Passport Fraud for
Use of German Agents
20 Arrests Are Predicted
Capt. Boehm, Won Papen
Aid, Held i'll England, Is
Centre of Gigantic Plot

Federal authorities have started a
nationwide roundup of Teutonic plot
tiers and their American aids who d.
rected gigantic passport fraud system
which enabled agents of the German
foreign Office to travel in Allied coun-
tries under the protection of the United
States.
Two men were apprehended here yes
torday and held in high bail. The ar
rests revealed the fact that man and
4 woman have been held on Ellis Island
for several months in connection with
the scheme. Assistant United States
Attorney George NJ. Curtis, who has
charge of the prosecutions, announced
that arrests are pending In Oregon and
"a number of Southern states. He esti-
mated that at least twerIty persons in
all parts of the country will be taken
in custody on charges OF aiding the
conspiracy.
Karl T. Thomas, Of 81 Wadsworth
Avenue, and Max Wyner. of 1870
Mapes Avenue, were arrested by agents
of the Department of Justice yesterday
on bench warrants. The Federal Grand
Jury, in sealed indictment handed up
this week, charged them with aiding in
obtaining fraudulent passports for Cap
tain Hans Boehm, of the German Cen
cral Staff. They were held in $4,000
bail each by United States Commission
or Hitchcock.
:, May Try Boehm Here
Captain Boehm was taken off the
Dutch steamer Zelandia at Falmouth,
England, by Scotland Yard men in Jan
uary of 1917. He carried an American
passport issued to Jelks lie Roy
Thrasher, of Quitman, Brooks County,
VA. British Admiralty operatives had
followed him in Spain and Holland
He admitted his identity, and was in
termed in England. 1t was minated
yesterday that he will be brought to
this couatry for trial.
Mr.. Curtis explained yesterday that
the government has conclusive evil
dence that Boehm was aided by Ameri-
can citizens of German birth in his
operations in America. He said that
Boehm first came to the United States
in 1906. and settled in Portland, Ore
gon. There ne was a manager for a
number of German clubs, and directed
the Teutonic propaganda III the North
west
Got 100000 From Won Papen
In December, 1914, Boehm came to
New York with letter of introduction
30 Karl Thomas, who, says Mr.. Curtis,
was then employed on William Ran
dolph Hearst's "Deutsches Journal"
Later, according to Mr.. Curtis, Thomas
introduced Boehm, who was using the
alias K. Blake, to Mrs. Thrasher. For
some time Boehm boarded with Mrs.
Thrasher. He wrote a letter to the
authorities at Quitman, and secured a
passport in her husbands name.
The passport, which was Endorsed by
Thomas and Wyner, was made out for
England, Holland and Scandinavia. Mr.
Curtis stated, however, that the gov
eminent is ready TO prove that Boehm
made three trips to Berlin after the
outbreak of the war to get instructions
from the Foreign Office
The Federal prosecutor stated that
Boehm worked with Captain Franz Won
Papcn and Wolf Won Igel in their cam
paign OF terrorism which was designed
to keep the United States out Of the
war. The Won Papen records show
that he paid over 100000 to Boehm to
carry on his work in Oregon.
Eric Thcuer, of Reading, Penn, and
Mrs. Karl Buesem are being held as
dangerous enemy aliens on Ellis Island
in connection with the plot. Mrs Bue-
sem is the former Mrs. Thrasher. Her
scconA husband is an enemY subject.