Evening star., 1938-06-23
WRIT TO BLOCK
PRINTING Of SPY
STORIES WEIGHED
Judge Considers U. S. Plea
> to Hold Up G-Man's
Articles.
TURR0U ANNOUNCES
FOUR HAVE CONFESSED
T. B. I. Agent Who Investigated
Case Says They Made
Signed Statements.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Eighteen persons hare been in
dicted on espionage charges in the
Governments most intenSipe spy
probe since the World, Wdr. Leon
G. Turrou today announced signed
confessions from suspects. The Gop-
ernn,ent asks court to grant in
function barring publication OF in
side story until grand jury COM
pletes work. Petition taken under
ddusement today
Ry tie Associated Press.
NEW YORK. June 23.-Federal
Judge Murray Hubert reserved deci-
sion today on the Governments appli-
cation for an order restraining the
New York Post from publishing the
inside" story of the espionage in
vestigation.
A temporary restraining order, is
sued yesterday, was continued.
The articles, which were to have
started today, were written by Leon
G. Turrou, former special agent of
the Department of Justice, who was
the chief investigator in the case.
The argument before Judge Hubert
dealt principally with the question
OF whether the Post was entitled, un-
der the free press provisions of the
Constitution, to publish the series
while the investigation still was in
progress.
Turrou declared he had signed con-
fessions" from four indicted spy sus-
poets now in custody
Self Confessed Spies.
They are self-confessed spies and
they have already involved many
Others" he said The four defendants
pleaded innocent to espionage charges
yesterday.
Mr. Turrou issued his statement in
q corridor of the Federal Building just
before hearing started on an order to
restrain the New York Post from pub
fishing series of articles written by
him. The articles were advertised as
the authentic inside story behind the
United States grand jury indictments
Of IA German officials"
United States Attorney Lamar Hardy
obtained the order yesterday on the
eve of the scheduled publication of the
first of the articles, requiring the Post
to show cause why it should not be
restrained from printing them. Mr..
Hardy contended publication of the
series at this time would hamper the
progress of the investigation still
under way.
Turrou Sees Duty to People.
In his statement Mr. Turrou said:
Il never itnended in any way to in
terfere with the administration of
justice, but merely to reveal the sim
lister forces behind this spy ring, which
will not be revealed at any trial.
Il have signed confessions from all
four defendants in custody. The evi-
dence against them is so overwhelming
that they cannot escape. They are self
confessed spies and they have already
involved many others.
"All intend to do is to reveal what
has already been outlined. to tear the
mask from those behind these self
confessed spies. 1t is a duty I owe to
the American people.
r"I'm not in the service now, and I'm
performing real patriotic duty, and
no one is going to stop me.
What I am going to write about has
nothing to do with the evidence. There
are many people here and abroad who
will be tickled to death because of to-
days proceedings"
Justice Obstruction Claimed.
At the hearings on the show cause
order, Assistant United States Attor-
ney John w. Burke contended it
would be an obstruction of justice and
contempt of court to publish informa-
ton which may be presented to the
Federal grand jury.
Mr. Turrou was a witness before
the grand jury and will be necessary
witness at the trial." Mr.. Burke said.
"On June 20 he resigned, that is, he
resigned from active duty. His resig-
nation won't become effective until
September 90
Through his participation in the
case, Mr.. Burke said, Mr.. Turrou be-
tame acquainted with all the Govern
(See SPY, Page A-4)