Evening star., 1938-12-18
Soy Run1rich Confronts
Girl Seized on Docks

Europa to reach New York, Febru-
ary 26. I took Rumrich from his
cell in the military prison at Gov
ernors Island, N. Y. where he was
known only as Prisoner 13, and
questioned him over and over. When
the liner steamed up to Quarantine
I and two other F. B. I. agents were
on the Coast Guard cutter that met
her.
I got the passenger list and swift
ly ran down it, looking for the name
of "Schluter." 1t wasn't there. Nor
was the red-headed Jenni Hofmann
on the passenger list.
Miss Hoffman's Name Found.
called for the crew manifest and
struck more disappointment. The
name of Schluter was on it, all
right, listed as a steward. But along
sde was the notation: Did not
sail"
So the alarm had reached Ger
many already. I checked the crew
manifest for the name of Jenni
Holman. There she was, under
her right name:
johanna Hofmann, hair-dresser.
My first instinct was to arrest her
at once. But she was so far our
lone thread reaching to Germany
and I didn't want to snap it. I
wanted to snap it. wanted to
see where else it tied in here, be-
sides Rumrich. To watch her, and
wait, seemed the better gamble. Be-
sides. perhaps there were more Nazi
spy ring members aboard. I didn't
want to scare them off before I had
a chance to talk to her.
So the problem was to get a
good look at her, so we would know
her and be able to follow her, with
out her knowledge. I didn't want
to confide in any of the officers, be-
cause for all I knew I might be
confiding in an accomplice. My eye
fell on the immigration inspectors,
who had boarded the ship when we
did. I knew Chief Inspector John
Montgomery well enough to enlist
his aid without going into lengthy
details.
He issued call to all crew men,
bers to appear in the third-class
dining room for verification of land
ing passes.
sat at a table with the chief
inspector, as if I were an assist
ant. and the two other F. B. I
agents sat at the next table.
johanna Hofmann!" called an as
sistant purser, and trim young
woman in crisp white uniform
with beautiful reddish hair, came
up to the table.
The inspector kept her standing
there only about a minute, but it
was enough time for trained eyes
to photograph her indelibly on our
minds. The great liner came up
the harbor and was eased into her
dock.
Boat Watched Two Hours.
Another agent was waiting at the
pier, per instructions, and at a
signal he joined us as we went off
the boat. I stationed one man
where he could observe every one
leaving the first-claSs gangplank
and another at the crew gangplank
at the rear.
Thus we watched for two hours
wondering whom this attractive spy
contact would meet and to where
and to what she would lead us. But
she failed to appear. I grew impa-
tient and was about to go back
aboard the ship to investigate when
I caught a signal from the agenS
watching the crew gangplank.
And there she came, tripping
lightly across the gangplank, ap-
parently serenely unaware that she
was being watched. Quite obviously
she had come off the boat for only
a few moments, and soon it was
obvious that she had come off to
look for some one. She walked UP
and down, looking toward the pier
stairways from the street.
And then, suddenly, with a little
shrug, she started back for the
crew gangplank.
1t was time to act In a few swift
strides I was by her side. I tipped
my hat.
johanna Hofmann?" I said.
Her eyes widened slightly, but
without fright. Her looks, her visits
to foreign lands apparently made
her accustomed to being accosted
and in the safety of the pier, few
steps from the ship, she was cool
and unafraid.
Yes" she acknowledged.
will you come with us?" I said
quietly in German. 1--WE want te
talk to YOU
Still she was unafraid.
"Vehr sind sic? CWho are you?)'
she demanded.
"We are Government officers" I
replied, and showed her my F. B.
badge.
For a moment I thought she was
about to faint, she turned so pale
"Where-where are you taking
me?" she managed.
I suggested the pier waiting room
because I wanted to frighten her
as little as possible. A frightened
man may talk more readily, but q
hysterical woman is hopeless.
WAS iSt das allies? (What is this
all aboutO" she asked, as we
walked toward the waiting room
But there were hundreds of people
in it, and there was no chance to
talk to her there. 1--WE can't discuss
matters here" I said. You will
have to go with us to my Office"
Denies She Knows Rumrich.
She was trembling and still pale
h.rf