Evening star., 1943-08-25
Sensational Trials
III Spy Case Forecast
BY Justice Officials
Two of Six Arrested
/ Are Listed by FBI
| As Countesses

| AS Countesses
| Trial of the alleged German
agents rounded up by the FB1
IN connection with a spy plot
against Detroit and other Ameri-
dan munitions centers, which
backf1red against its perpetra-
tbrs in Germany, will be hum
dinger," it was predicted today
at the Justice Department.
No further developments are ex-
pected In the case, however until
members of the spy ring go into
court to defend themselves against
charges of violating the wartime es-
pionage law, which prescribes death
as the maximum penalty.
Meanwhile, four women among
them two identified in FBI records
as countesses. and man, are being
held In Detroit, and another man
Bertrand Stuart Hoffman, 81, 9
member of the American merchant
marine remained in FB1 custody in
New York.
Two of the women were arrested
as dangerous enemy Aliens" and
as is customary in such cases, their
names were not disclosed, One was
said to be member Of a prominent
Detroit family. The FBI said she
was born in Berlin, held the title
of countess and had lived In Detroit
several years.
The other countess, attractive
Grace Buchanan -Dineen, 34-year-
old cosmopolite with a wide social
acquaintanceship, is being held in
Detroit on charge of giving war
information to Germany 1t was
she, the FBI said, who, when dis
covered in her activities, turned
counter-Spy and co-operated with
Federal agents to the end that the
Nazi espionage got only the infor-
nation which the Government de
sired" All her transmissions were
scrutinized by Army and Navy
intelligence.
When arraigned in Detroit yester-
tdN, IllC lOSoSlubCQ Cos QuOlto IST
as saying: Il have no wish to con-
suit an attorney for I have nothing
to say
The wife of DR.. Fred William
Thomas, A, Detroit obStetrician who
was similarly charged, told reporters,
according to the Associated Press
she was stunned" at his arrest
Pointing out that she and her hus-
band were born in the United States,
Mrs. Thomas was quoted as declar-
ing:
,"I refuse to believe there is a
word Of truth in these charges
against him. I can imagine nothing
lower than any one who would sell
out his country While / do not ex-
pect to choose between my husband
and my country. because I know he
Is innocent. if it came to a show
down my country would come first"
DR.. Thomas pleaded not guilty
when arraigned.
The fourth woman arrested In
Detroit on charge of violating the
wartime espionage law-Mrs. The
resa Wassertauer Behrens, 44-and
Miss Buchanan-Dineen stood mute
on arraignment and not guilty pleas
were entered for them, All were
held in $4,000 bond each for ex-
animation next month.
Another defendant, Merchant
Marine Seaman Stuart Hoffman. 81,
arrested in New York by FBI agents,
was being removed to Detroit today,
accompanied by a United States
marshal.
Hoffman's removal order was
signed yesterday by Federal Judge
Marcus B. Campbell in Brooklyn
In Detroit, Miss Buchanan-Dineen
lived in an apartment next to a
United States Naval armory. During
her year and half there she had
been we'll received socially and made
numerous lectures before womens S
groups.
Mrs. Behrens Naturalized Citizen.
Mrs. Behrens was born in Yugo-
slavia. of German parents. She
went to Detroit In 1918 and became
a naturalized citizen in 1929, listing
her occupation as social worker
The FBI said she had made numer-
Gus trips to Germany
DR.. Thomas was born in Fresno,
Ohio, and in 1928 served as an ex-
change surgeon in ST. George Hos
pltal, Hamburg, Germany.
Hoffman was born in ST. Thomas,
a l.
frequent visitor to the German
restaurant once operated by Max
Stephan. convicted of treason and
now serving a life sentence for
aiding Nazi flyer who escaped from
Canadian prison camp
Came TO L. S. in 194l.
Activities of the spy ring, accord
ing to FBI Director j. Edgar Hoover,
centered about Miss Buchanan
Dlneen, who shortly after her ar
rival in this country on an Atlantic
Clipper in October, l94l, came to
the attention Of the FBI as mys-
terious Miss Smith" of Detroit.
She came to the United States,
Mr.. Hoover said, with last minute
instructions given her by German
naval attache in Lisbon just before
the Clipper departed.
Miss Buchanan -Dineen was re-
cruited for the German espionage
service in Budapest in the summer
of l94l by Sari de Hajek. Hungar-
ian exchange student and a Vassar
graduate, it was shown in FBI rec
ords. Sari de Hajek was said to
have been sent to this country in
the guiSe of a lecturer which gave
her an opportunity to gather valua-
bic information on Americas early
defense efforts while travelling about
the country.
Delivered Lectures.
Accompanied by her husband
Guyula Rozinek, former captain
in the German Army she toured the
United States in 1888 and 1889 and
delivered many lectures, chiefly on
the West Coast. Rozinek was de-
ported in May, 1941, and his wife