New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
former lieutenants Immediately recop-
nlzed the man as their former superior

former lieutenants Immediately recog-
nlzed the man as their former superior
officer.
mo doubt about it," said Hatch.
Howell agreed with him.
Willers stood motionless fer a mo-
ment gazing at the wall and then sank
slowly into a chair.
You've got me-" he said. in a mat
ter-of-fact tone. "I'm Willers: I'm +.
deserter; Pm licked. l know il 7
did the best 1 could for my country
Willers then talked freely and wa.
questioned at length by the detectives
He smiled as he told them that thew
had no idea how many WASHINGTON
officials were in the employ of tn. I'm.
perial government.
asked. WAS
THAT don't know"
Willers gave his name to the detec-
tives as "Willet," but last night at
Governors Island declared that his
correct name was Willers.
Wlllers told the detectives that he
married an American girl, Miss
ago. He said she was aware of the
tact that he was a German spy.
He has roamed at will through manv
states and cities of the country, conf
dent that he would never be recog-
nized. When he came to New York
he started a mail order business at
542 West Fifty-third Street, and has
felt at perfect ease in going to and
from his business.
He often assured himself that in
such city he was safe from detection,
despite the fact that many members
of his former command are New York
erS.
Willers, according to detectives with
whom he talked, belongs to a wealthy
German family and has considerable
money of his own. He formerly lived
at Utina, Germany, near Hamburg. He
told the detectives that he had served
the fatherland to the best of his
ability and that it mattcred not to him
what disposal was made of his case.
The rigid training that Willers re-
ceived in Germany before coming to
the United States served him we'll in
this country, according to the three
ex-lieutenants who were his fellow
officers at Camp SEWER
"If not the very best officer in the
48th Infantry" said Howell, "he was
one of the very best. He made a fine
we'll liked by both officers and men, and
the entire command was astounded
when he absconded. Not until to-day
did we know that he was spy.
Because of his ability he enjoyed
the esteem of all who knew him, but
after it became known that he had
gone off with $4,000 in company money
he was hated in the same degree that
he had been admired.
"IIe was very peculiar in some re-
spects, but never for a moment was he
under suspicion and never was his
honesty questioned. l don't think he
went out of camp during the entire
time he was at Greenvllc. He spoke
everywhere as good fellow and played
q fine game of poker"
1t was said last night at 1874 River
side Drve-the address Willers gave
as his home-that he did not live there.
and that no one at the address ever
had heard Of him.
Mrs. Willcrs, we'll dressed woman
with dark hair and eyes, called at the
East Fifty-frst Street station shortly
after midnight this morning. She told
the desk lieutenant that she had heard
her husband had been arrested and that
she wanted his money and keys. She
was Informed that he had been taken
to Governors Island and she said that
she would go there this morning
Mrs. Willers was asked several ques-
tions by the desk lieutenant, but said
that she did not care to discuss her
husbands confession. She declared,
however, that he had always been
truthful and had not told her lie |
since their marriage. She said that
she and her husband lived at 1894
RiverSidp Drive