Evening star., 1936-07-15
SPY CASE RUSHED
TO GRAND JURORS;
FARNSWORTH ILL
Former Navy Officer Is Un-
der Doctors Care in
District Jail.
SCOUTS CHARGE HE SOLD
US. SECRETS TO JAPAN
Knew He Was Being Watched by
Intelligence Operatives and
Federal Agents.
BY REX COLLIER.

DI hEA COLLlEh.
While former Lieut. Comdr. John s.
Farnsworth remained under physi-
clans care at the District JAIL Justice
Department and Naval Intelligence
officials today prepared to present to
the District grand jury at an early
date evidence allegedly linking him
with the sale of naval secrets to
Japan.
A preliminary hearing in the SEN
sational case is scheduled for July 20
before United States Commissioner
Needham C. Turnage. but indications
are the case will be presented to the
grand jury shortly. without benefit Of
a commissioners hearing.
1t was hinted the grand jury evi.
dence might implicate other persons.
STANDBY Denies Obsolescence.
Meanwhile, Admiral William H.
Standley, Acting Secretary of the
Navy, denied that the document al
legedly sold to a Japanese naval officer
by Farnsworth was either obsolete or
the latter's personal property.
Farnsworth told reporters yesterday
some documents had been stolen from
his home in Chevy Chase, Md. about
year ago, but added that they were
"antiquated" and his personal prop
erty.
Questioned about this statement,
Admiral Standley pointed out it is the
policy of the Navy Department to re-
quire all dismissed officers to sur
render any confidential material in
their possession at the time of their
dismissal Farnsworth was dismissed
by court-martial verdict in 1927.
Consequently, Admiral Standley
said, if Farnsworth did sell the docu-
ments described in the warrant, he
must have secured them after his dis
miSsal.
The admiral said he did not know
where Farnsworth obtained the book
he is alleged to have sold, a confden-
tial publication called The Service of
Information and Security"
Issued First in 1916.
Admiral Standley said this docu-
ment was issued originally in 1916
as Scouting and Screening" He
added he was under the impression
that one revised addition, the date
of which he did not remember, was
not confidential, but that all subss.
quent additions have been.
Questioned concerning the posi-.
bility of additional arrests, Admiral
Standley said the matter is in the
hands of the Justice Department and
he did not feel free to discuss it.
FarnsWorth, obviously unnerved, en-
tered a faltering mot guilty plea yes
terday to the charges brought against
him by special agents of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and was COM
mitted at once to the District Jail in
default of $4,000 bond.
When he requested disqualification
because he was "all shot," Jail Super
intendent Rives had him examined by
the jail physician, who reported he
could find no ailment neceSsitating the
prisoners removal to hospital Farms
worth told the physician he was
suffering from ''gastritis." He is being
kept under observation In the jail in
firmary.
Meanwhile, The Star learned that
.Farnsworth has been aware for some
time that he was under surveillance
of Naval Intelligence officers and
G-men. He is said to have visited the
Navy Department not long ago and
discussed his activities with officials.
Farnsworth characterized the charges
as ''hooey" and said he would have
more to say about the case when he
feels better" He told newspaper men
he had shown certain naval documents
to several persons and that the papers
were stolen from his home not long
thereafter.
Planned Air Corps in China.
He said he had negotiated" with
certain Japanese and Chinese officials
regarding aviation matters, explain
ing he had drawn up plans for an
aviation corps in China with the ex-
pectation of obtaining commission.
The plans had failed to crystalline, he
added. A similar proposal to Japan
had also been futile, he asserted.
The name Of the Japanese naval
officer to whom Farnsworth is alleged
to have sold the confidential book is
being withheld by Government Off
ciak, who fear embarrassing conse-
quences." One official said he under
stood the officer had left the United
States.
In another official quarter it was
1See FARNSWORTH Page a.