Evening star., 1938-01-06
'MR. D. IS GR|LLED
|NRUBENSPUzzLE
Official Promises Discov-
cries, but Prisoner Won't
Talk or Sign Name.

NEW YORK, Jan. 6. - Federal
agents finally pierced some parts Of
the battling passport puzzle Of the
Donald L. Robinsons" mystery to-
day with a steady 13-hour questioning
Of the long-sought Mr.. D." of the
Tammany contract" chain.
"Mr. d." key man of the passport
puzzle, also known under the name
of Louis Epstein" believed to be
fictitious, was located last night when
the chain link next to him-"Mr.
C."-finally decided to cease pro
tecting" him.
Thomas Fitch, State Department
special agent in charge of the inves-
tlgation, who conducted the all-night
questioning, said today the case looks
good" Another official participating
said 'Mr D. has not admitted any,
thing, but We have cleared up most
Of the facts
Promise of startling revelations and
several arrests was made to reporters
by one official
"Mr. D." Is Brunette.
"Mr. d." his true identity either
unknown to or undisclosed by the
Federal agents. was described as be-
ing about 20 years old, S feet 6 inches
tall, weighing about l65 pounds. and
having long, wavy black hair and a
small black mustache.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Donald L. Rob-
inson," then presumably Americans,
disappeared in Moscow several weeks
ago. it was discovered they had trav-
eled abroad on fraudulently obtained
American passports. issued on af-
fidaWts from the Office of New York
County Clerk Albert Marinelli, who
since has resigned under fire.
Although it is not illegal for pass
ports to be obtained via the county
clerk. such procedure is unusual. In
vestigation showed the passports were
issued through a series of Tammany
contracts or political obligations to
be filled. A Mr.. "A" had taken the ap-
plications to Marinellis Office at the
request of Mr.. b" who had handled
them, in turn, for MIR. &c"
Investigator Reveals "Mr. D."
"Mr. c." Harry Zuckerman. 28 an
investigator for the Tenants Research
Bureau and Tammany worker, pre-
sented himself to the Federal agents
yesterday after conferring with his
lawyer, and disclosed the identity of
the final link, Mr.. D." or Epstein"
Mr.. D. was picked up last night.
Fitch and his aides began question:
ing him at : pm. and continued until
8 am. today. No charges were filed
against him Immediately, but he was
held for further questioning later in
the day.
Mr.. D." resisted all efforts to get
circumstantial story from him. He
declined to sign his name to any
paper. About the only information
obtained from him concerning him.
SELF the officials said. was an admis-
sion he had been arrested for four
minor offenses. all covered by the
charge Of disorderly conduct
Apparently there was no money in
volved in issuance Of the passports.
Zuckerman. "Mr. c." left the State
Department Offices after making his
disclosures with the remark he was
sorry he had spent so much time
protecting a man who does not de-
serve it,
Mrs. Rubens Reported Freed.
Mrs. Frederick G. Boerger said at
Miami she had received a telegram
from daughter in New York stating
that Mrs. Adolph Arnold Rubens, an
other daughter. had been released at
Moscow after detention as Mrs. Rob-
inson."
In New York, however, that daugh-
ter, Miss Connie Boerger, said she had
received no news of the release and
was mystified by reports she had
wired her mother that Mrs. Rubens
had been freed.
The State Department had not re-
ceived any official confirmation.
Previously an American at the
United States Embassy in the Soviet
capital had said Mrs. Rubens and
Mrs. Robinson were the same person.
State Department interest in the
case hinged on whether either Of the
couple was a bona fide American citi-
zen and thus entitled to assistance
from the Governments representatives
abroad.