New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
Army Captain
Admits He Was
Spy of Germany
CONTINUED frem pase ens)

CONTINUED frem pass ens)
States after careful training for spy
work in German military academy
and had instructions to use his jude-
ment in selecting the prope- field for
operations. He enlisted in the coast
artillery and later served as a drill
sergeant in an infantry regiment at
Fort Slocum. Ee entered Plattsburg
as student officer, made a splendid
record and was graduated from the
tain. He then felt that he was we'll
prepared to 20 ahead with his plans
to the very end.
he enjoyed the esteem Of the off,
GERS and men of the 48th Infantry until
they learned at reveille fifteen days
after the armistice that Captain Willers
had vanished. They say they learned
also that he had taken with him $4,000
IN cash and Liberty bonds OF this sum,
$4,000 belonged to the company fund,
which had been placed in the cap
tain's care.
The remainder belonged to enlisted
men. All that he left behind was an
empty suitcase, some cigarettes, an
assortment of out-of-date magazines
and a worthless check for $500.
OmCcES OWOIc NcVenR0
Several officers of the regiment
tt, majority of them attached to Com
pany I-swore that they'd forever be
on the lookout for Captain John Will
lers. One of them was Lieutenant
Hugh ]. Hannigan. Yesterday Hanni-
gan saw WiHcrs and devoted the after
noon to seeing that Willers was placed
behind the bars on a government res
ervation.
Hannigan was in an ascending ele-
vator at 512 Fifth Avenue when he
noticed a chin in the crowded lift
that was strikingly familiar. He
peered over woman's shoulder and
cot n closer look. He recognized the
chin as that belonging to Captain John
Willers.
Willers left the elevator at the
seventh floor and Hannigan followed.
The former captain entered Room TIP
and Hannigan waited in the corridor.
He hailed a man in the corridor and
instructed him to 60 downstairs and
get n policeman and wait in front of
the building. Several minutes later
Willers, looking neither to the right
nor left, came out Of Room TIP and
took an elevator to the ground floor,
Hannigan closely following.
When he reached the front of the
building, Hannigan saw that there was
no policeman near and. followed
Willers up Fifth Avcnue to Forty
second Street. and then down Forty
second to Sixth Avenue. Meanwhile
the man Hannigan met in the corridor
had reached patrolman and the two
Of them were walking several yards
behind Hannigan.
Hannigan Accosts Willers
On Sixth Avenue, between Forty
second and Forty-third streets: Hanni-
gan tapped Willers on the shoulder.
"Say, isn't your name Willers ?"
asked Hannigan.
"No; guess you have the wrong
man."
Don't you recognize me?" persisted
Hannigan.
before"
He started forward, and Hannigan
clutched him by the sleeve.
Just minute. Take off your hat"
Willers complied.
knew it'll" cried Hannigan cxult-
antly. you're my prisoner"
lie called the patrolman who was a
short distance behind and Willers was
station. He vehemently protested
against his arrest, saying that his name
was not Willers and that he had not
served at Camp Sewer. He reiterated
this on his way to the police station
When surrounded by a cluster Of de-
tcctives he continued to protest his
innocence.
"All right" said Hannigan. "Ill
prove he is Willers and I'll prove he
is a dcserter from the United States
army. Just give me one hour"
In one hour Hannigan presented him
self before the prisoner, and with him
were Howell and Hatch. The two