Evening star., 1942-02-12
Laura ingalls,
SaysShe Hoped
To Expose Spies
Fuked Aid to Nuzis
To Betroy Them,
Flyer Tells Jury

In a controlled, modulated
voice, Laura ingalls,, aviatrix,
told jury of two women and
10 men in District Court today
at her trial as an unregistered
Nazi agent that she made con-
facts with the German Embassy
and pretended to carry out a
mission for the Nazis because
she wanted to expose espionage
and subversive activities in this
country and the F. B. I. had
refused to put her to work.
Facing the jury calmly, often
speaking as If she we're addressing
public audience, the flyer identi-
fled correspondence which she had
with j. Edgar Hoover, head of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. in
1889. She had offered her services
as a secret agent, the letters brought
out, and Mr.. Hoover had thanked
her and told her that the bureau
did not employ women in that
capacity.
In one point in her testimony, Miss
ingalls, said 1T was wonderful what
Hitler had done-for the German
people" This statement was made
after she was asked whether she had
expressed to New York physician,
who was treating her, some admira-
tion for the German government.
Coming to the crux of the Gov
ernment's case, Miss ingalls, de-
scribed visit to DR.. Hans Thom-
sen, then charge d'affaires of the
German Embassy. in January, 194l.
Accused Of Making Speeches"
why did you go to see him?"
asked her attorney, James Reilly.
Il became very definitely con-
sclous of subversive influences in
this country Miss ingalls, replied.
L was conscious of British propa-
ganda, and there was nothing I
could do about it. I thought that
II l could focus the attention of the
country on some actual danger. we
might stop all this help for Europe
and keep something for ourselves"
The Government prosecutor. M.
Neil Andrews. special assistant to
the Attorney General. objected that
the defendant was not answering
the questions and was making
speeches to the jury. Justice James
w. Morris asked Miss ingalls, to stay
as close to the issues as possible.
though she could make any expla.
nation she wanted.
Sought to Guido F. B. 1.
Il thought" Miss ingalls, resumed.
/ could find out by working into
their confidence what might be
going on in this country. I knew I
had no training in such work. and
I did not think I could outwit those
Germans, but I felt that if I ep-
pealed to their emotions l might
accomplish what the F. B. l., with
its S2,000000 appropriation. could
not. could suggest that they need
ed friends and couldn't I help them
promote in this country what they
were doing"
On that first visit to the German
Embassy, Miss ingalls, said. when she
offered her services, DR.. Thomson.
receiving her most courteously. told
her: mo, no, have nothing for
you"
1--WE had just appropriated s7,000.-
100000 in aid Britain" Miss ingalls,
added Indignantly. "and there was
extensive poverty in this country"
. The prosecutor objected and again
the court asked the defendant not
to wander too far afield.
Recess Taken At Noon.
Miss ingalls, was just launching
into recital of her late and more
successful efforts to make contact
with other officials in the Embassy
when the noon recess was taken.
Early in the testimony she was
asked concerning statements at
tributed to her by a New York
physician. indicating she had pro-
German sentiments. She said she
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