The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14
FOUR ALLEGED
SPIES ON TRIAL
Continued from Page u

however, to reveal for the first time
the story behind months Of secretive
grand jury appearances, trips TO
Germany by federal agents, flights
on German ships OF q dozen per.
sons under grand jury subpoena,
and the long confinement Of several
witnesses.
The four on trial were: Red
haired Johanna Hoffman,, q hair
dresser on the German liner Eu-
ropa, alleged messenger for German
agents; Erich CHASER, private at
Mitchell field. army air base, &C.
cused Of having stolen an aviation
code book: Guenther Rumrich,
army deserter, and Otto VoSs, me-
chanic at the Severslky airplane
factory at Farmingdale, N. Y, who
allegedly stole plans for q new army
pursuit plane.
Fourteen More Named
Fourteen others were named IN
the indictment. some Of whom ned
the country, others who had never
been here. Among them were Capt.
Lieut.. Erich Pictured Of Berlin,
head Of the German secret srevice;
Capt.-Lieut. lido Won BONN Of Ber-
lin, head Of the German navy In
telligence, and others Of almost
equal prominence.
The trial was before Federal
Judge John g. Knox. A jury panel
Of $50 was summoned and the jury
was expected to be chosen today.
The government had 40 witnesses
and volumes Of records and deposit
tons, including an 1s,o00-word
statement given TO two Of Hardys
assistants on their trip to Germany
by DR.. Ignatz r. Gribel, who fed
from New York on o German ship
while under bond as o witness.
Griebel Revealed Plot
Griebel, former head Of the Nazi
Friends Of the New Germany In
the United States, was said to have
given Omen the full story Of the
plot before he fed. His willingness
TO talk had won his release on bond.
He left his wife, Maria 0ribel, here,
and she was placed under $4,000
bond, repeatedly as q hostage. She
was released September 20. after
Griebel had made his deposition In
Germany, and Immediately left the
country.
Among the witnesses were Kate
Moog Busch, comely blonde nurse
and friend of Griebel, who was said
to have been assigned to open a
salon In Washington where she
might meet army and navy officers
and wangle secrets from them, and
6enta de Wagner, who operated o
liquor store near Mitchell field.
Deserter Pleaded Guilty
New York, October IA. - (UP)-
Guenther Gustave Rumrich, army
deserter whose bungling attempt
to obtain passport blanks led TO the
uncovering Of an alleged Nazi spy
ring, pleaded guilty to espionage
charges in federal court today.
Rumrich's plea came as counsel
prepared to pick a jury to try him
and three others accused as mem
bers of the greatest peace time spy
organization ever uncovered in this
country. Rumrich had been charged
specifically with aiding Private
Erich CHASER, another defendant, to
steal q military aviation code from
Mitchell Field, Eastern Army Air
Headquarters.
In the presence Of Chaser, Otto
Hermann Voss, mechanic charged
with stealing airplane plans, and
Johanna Holman, VINO allegedly
used here position Of hairdresser on
the liner Europa to carry messages
to Germany, Rumrich walked to the
bar and entered his plea.
Judge John @. Knox said he
would defer sentence and federal
prosecutors added that Rumrich
would be a witness FOR the govern
ment.
The slightly built, thin-faced
youth was arrested after he had
called the immigration department
and had asked for passport blanks
as Mr.. Weston. undersecretary Of
state" immigration ofiicials first
considered the request practical
Joke, but an investigator finally was
sent and Rumrich was taken into
custody.
story Led To Arrests
The story he eventually told led
70 the indictment Of IS persons in
GLIDING two high members OF the
German war ministry as plotters In
q vast scheme to steal naval. milf
! tary and coast guard defense Sc