Evening star., 1943-09-15
Newark Man Seized
By FB| as Nazi Spy;
Had Is Assignments

The Justice Department an
nounced today the arrest in
Newark, N. j., of John Da Silva
Purvis, 43-year-old citizen of
Portugal, charged under the
Wartime Espionage Act with act
ing as a German spy.
FB1 Director J. Edgar Hoover said
Purvls, an owner of small wash
ing machine and refrigerator busi-
ness near his home in Newark.
transmitted information to his
principals in Europe and on two
occasions received cash payments
for his services.
PurVis. described by the FBI as
"dapper' allegedly began his espion-
age activities early in 1912 when
he was recruited by a crew member
of a neutral vessel who was serving
in the German Intelligence Service.
Mr.. Hoover said. In September OF
last year Purvis obtained a job as
stevedore at the port of Newark,
where his duties consisted of loading
planes and high gasoline. He
kept this job for short time.
A representative of the German
espionage system. according to Mr..
Hoover brought to the United States
a personal letter addressed to Purvis
and containing certain identifying
code letters. He also brought a list
of Is specific assignments to be COW
cred by Purvis.
The assignments included in
formation on warship construction.
damage at Pearl Harbor. losses in
sea action, convoy information data
On American bases in Central and
South America and on the African
coast. including mine fields, the
FB1 director said
Other assignments handled by
Purvis. as described by Mr.. Hoover:
American plans for landing in
Africa and activities affecting the
Azores. CAPE Verde and the Canary
Islands: all possible information on
the Panama Canal; general inform
alton on war production; figures
on shipments to England. Russia and
Australia; specific data on embark
alton of troops: information on
merchant marine traffic to Pernam-
buco. Trinidad. St. Thomas and
Santa Lucia.
Wanted Radio Operators.
Also intelligence on name. date,
hour and location of the sinking of
hi
Lisbon. the names of warships pro-
tecting conveys: data on the type
of groups and kind of equipment
transported: recruitment of radio
operators who would be willing to
furnish information direct from
their ships.
Mr.. Hoover said Purvis wrote a
superiors acknowledging receipt of
10 pounds of sausage" and 10
pounds of cheese
1T is believed that these remarks
referred to money paid to Purvis
for his activities" Mr. Hoover said.
The FBI chief said that in let
ter acknowledging receipt of funds
from the German spy system. Pur-
Wis demanded $500 month for con-
tinuing his activities.
While Purvis awaited a reply to
his offer. the men who comprised
the spy ring in Lisbon for which
he had been working were arrested
by Portuguese authorities, MI
Hoover related
Purvis will be arraigned before the
United States commissioner at New
ark this afternoon on charges of
violating the Espionage Act. which
carries maximum penalty of death,
and evasion of censorship regula-
tions
Purvis. who came to this country
from Lisbon in November. 1899,
worked at odd jobs at New Bedford.
Taunton and Cambridge. Mass, be-
fore returning to Portugal for visit
in August, 1929 He re-entered this
country at Providence, r. l., in June,
1881.
Then he worked for a time in a
rubber plant at Cambridge. Moving
to Long Island, N. Y, he became
an odd-job man at a hospital. He
moved to Newark in 1885.