Evening star., 1938-12-21

Leon S. Turrou
The closeness with which the Hit
Ter high command kept in touch with
the progress of our investigation of
the NaN spy ring here is indicated
in a dozen ways, including the swift
ness and directness with which it
moved to balk us in every way
possible.
am convinced that Na1 spies
and Gestapo men even kept watch
on the Federal Building in New York
during the F. B. I. investigation, and
trailed our witnesses and all those
who testified before the Federal
grand jury.
They must have been reporting
directly to Berlin, for the witnesses
who disappeared were spirited out
Of the country on direct orders of
the Hitler government. have proof
that the officials in Germany knew
all about those disappearances. I
know they ordered, too, the shifting
of the dangerous spy Schuetz from
one ship to another to frustrate us.
The Nazi spy chiefs didn't try to
aid Guenther Gustav Rumrich be-
cause they were enraged at what
they considered his clumsiness in
being caught, and because he con-
feSSed and helped us dig deeper.
They didn't bother with Erich CHASER
either, because he was such small
fry and dealt only with Rumrich.
Money Sent to Woman.
But they came to the aid of red
headed Johanna (JennD Hofmann
at once. The office of the Nazi
consul general in New York sent her
money each week in prison, so she
could send out for new clothes and
food and luxuries. They also sent
her lawyer.
He telephoned one day and, speak
ing with very heavy accent, intro
duced himself as DR.. Richard Bother,
newly sent from Berlin to be coun-
cilor. at the Nazi Consulate here.
He demanded that he be permitted
to see Jenni at once and alone. I
told him that of course he could see
Jenni, as her lawyer, but that an
observer for the F. B. I. would have
to be present. I told him to come
in an hour.
Then I went to Jenni's cell. I
explained to her who was coming to
see her and told her that 1 would
remain In the room during the
interview. But I warned her not
to indicate by any word or sign
that I understood German.
Speaks In Rapid German.
didn't really think it would work,
but figured it would be interesting,
just in case 1t did. On the hour, DR..
Bother marched in, a pompous, off,
clouS man with red cheeks.
He ignored me entirely during the
Interview and addressed himself to
Jenni in rapid German.
She told him the whole story, as
she had told it to me, beginning with
her agreement to aid Schluter in his
spy contact work and following
through her arrest.
Bother grew purple.
And how much did you tell the
American Government agents?" he
demanded.
Il confessed to Mr.. Turrou," she
replied. Il had no alternative.
They had the code, the letters and
everything. There was no use for
me to lie any more"
| Bother 1lared at her
"Haben sic allies erzhelt?" did
you tell evertyhing?)
"Yes," she said, everything"
had some difficulty keeping q
blank face, because his rage was a
hight to behold.
You didn't have to tell every
thing!" he gritted through clenched
teeth.
A little later he cooled off some
what and, after instructing her
vehemently to tell no more to any,
one, he told her the consulate would
assign lawyers admitted to practice
here for her.
He marched out after CURLY bid
ding me good day in English, still
| AAAo WoAO A4oO ul4OCl StOOO every
word.
Instructions Repeated.
The next day two lawyers came.
They, too, instructed her to talk no
more, but pretty soon they dis
appeared from the case and a man
named George G. Dix took their
place. I don't know who hired him.
Jenni told all her lawyers, just as
she swore to me, that she told me
the truth.
Let me get back to the letters
Jenni Holman bore for Nazi spies
here. The one that interested me
most-and which took us the great
est distance in our investigation of
this plot against our national Sc
curity-was one which bore a sur
prising name on the address.
The name was that Of DR.. Ignatz
T. Griebl. The letter to him indi-
Gated plainly that he was of the
highest Importance in this spy ring.
But-Dr. Griebl, the widely-known
surgeon and obstetrician, a spy? It