New-York tribune., 1920-12-09
i. s. to Probe
Past Life of
Confessed Spy
Wiliers's Story That 800
German Cadets We're Sent
Here in 1914 Is Doubted
at Governors Island
Wife Visits Him in Cell
She Tells of Romance That
eliminated in + Months:
Room Of Coupe Searched

AsOOAI vi NOup Z CcdICIlcO
John Willers, deserter and self-pro-
claimed German spy. was held at Gov
ernor's Island yesterday, pending an in
vestigation by army officials Of the
sntecedents recorded IN his enlistment
papers.
u Hers. whose amazing revelations
OF system by which he declared the
imperial German government had sent
ussiantrained spies into the .Ameri-
can army during 1914 and 1915, in an
ticlpation Of the entrance of this coun-
Try into the war, followed his arrest on
charges Of desertion and embezzle-
rent. was formerly captain Of Com
pany I, 48th Infantry
By strange coincidence his arrest
Tuesday afternoon occurred two years
TO 3 day after, it is charged, he had
taken French leave from Camp Sewer
Greenville, S. c., with $4,000 of COM
psny funds. a part Of which was due
enlisted men as army pay.
Amazing Story Doubted
Army officers yesterday were not pre-
pared to believe without qualification
the amazing story told by the ex-cap-
tain of how he, with three hundred
other cadets, had come to this country
in 1914 with instructions from their
government TO enter the American
forces, obtain commissions. if possible,
ard betray their troops after they had
arr ved in contested terr tory. A thor
ough investigation, they said, is being
made
Willers also told former officers Of
his command, who had confirmed the
identification after his arrest, that
they would be surprised could they
know now many hign officials in Wash
ineton were in the employ Of the Ger
ma government during the war This
phase Of his velations is also under
lnvas .gation.
Willert, was permitted by the
Governors Island authorities to see
his vile for brief period yesterday
morning Following the interview,
Mrs Willers declined to say whether
she would engage civilian counsel to
assia- Lieutenant Cohn, who has been
d ignaced by the Judge Advocates
ohice in the defense of her husband
For the past two months Mr. and
Mrs. Wilers have lived in a room
they rented in the apartment of
Charles 7. Nevins, at e94 Riverside
DrivA. They were extremely retiring,
according to RS. Nevins, going out
tosctler in the morning and returning
sl.Crt.y after o'clock in the evening.
They rarely went out at night and
receiF ed no callers, letters or tele-
grams at the apartment. Mrs. Nevins
said she rarely saw them except on oc-
casion when Mrs. Wilers paid the
rent, and that at these times she
never alluded to personal matters.
Agents of the Department Of Justice
last night went to the room occupied
by Mr.. and Mrs. Wilers Mr. Nevins
said, and demanded to search their ef-
fects. Mr.. Nevins did not know wheth J.
er or not the agents had found any
thing bearing upon Willers's pro-
claimed Germa, connexions, as he was
not permitted in the room while the
search was under way.
Earlier in the day it was said at the
local Office of the department that no
action in connection with the Willers
case had been taken and tha. no orders
TO conduct an investigation into any
phase Of his story had been received
Mrs. Willers has not returned to the
Nevins apartment since TUESDAY morn
ing, according to information obtained
there last night. She was seen yester-
day, while on the way to visit her hus-
band, and said:
Il cannot believe the awful story
John is said TO have told Of his activi-
ties during the war. l met him in Chi
cago eighteen months ago, and we were
married after en- acquaintance Of four
months. He has Away. been q good
husband. and trusted him.
There have been times when I no
.iced he was extremely taciturn. almo st
melancholy Once I asked him What
vas the matter and be replied: 4 am
Cerrnanborn, but enlisted In the
American army, and vas compelled to
train men to XII my kin. 1t worries
me
Commanded Picked Men
About month ago this melancholia
seemed worse than usual, and I again
Questioned him. He said he had lost a
relative in St. Louis. lie was always
good to me and truthful. can't be-
lleve these terrible things"
Since his incarceration in Castle
Williams, according to Governors Isl
and officials, Willers has stolidly de-
elined to comment on the revelations
Of German espionage made immediate-
~ after mis- arrest.
When he was taken TO the island
Tuesday night ne was recognized by
Lieutenan,-Colonel John J.. Bond, nov
detailed there, VINO said:
"Wlllers was { wonderful soldier q
likable fellow and one Of the most ef-
;lcient drill instructors | have ever
seen perform. AT Camp Sewer he
commanded demonstration company
u picked men and taught them abso
Jute mastery Of drill technique. no one
suspected him Of dis,oyalty ad the fall
from grace revealed by his unauthor-
ized departure was a surprise to every
one
The two ex-oAcers called by Ny.
Hanniga to confirm his Identification
- their former commander arc Frank
". Hatch, Of the American Interna-
t!onal Corporation, 120 broadway, and
sidney p. Howell. an employee Of the
National Bank Of Commerce, 81 Nassau
Street. II vas 10 these three, In the
presence OF detectives, that Willers
told his story OF the German espionage
preparations in this country before
America entered the war.
His Story Being Traced
"Iherc are certain elements Of the
s1rprising narrative," continued Mr..
Hatch, that lend credencc TO Willer's
Trr frfr0 III be a,,f.