SPY SUSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 146, 23 June 1938, Page 9

SPY SUSPECTS

THE AMERICAN CASE FOUR ACCUSED PLEAD NOT GUILTY TRIAL ON AUGUST 1 United Press Association—By Electric Tel«« graph—Copyright. (Received June 23, 9 a.m.) \ NEW YORK, June 22. The four German spy suspects who are held under arrest in New York—Gunther Rumrich, a deserter from the United States army, Johanna Hoffman, hairdresser on the liner Europa, Erich Glaser, a United States army private, and Voss, who is accused of selling military secrets to Germany—were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. The 9 trial is scheduled to open oa August 1. ' Bail was fixed at 25,000 dollars. Bench warrants issued in respect of the fourteen other persons in* dieted by the Grand Jury are regarded only as gestures.

INVESTIGATOR RESIGNS WANTS MORE MONEYj HIS WORK PRAISED DELAY CAUSED IN CASE NEW YORK, June 22.

A mild sensation was caused today by the resignation, in order to write his experiences for a newspaper, of Mr.' Leon G. Turrou, chief agent ot the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who was largajy responsible lor uncovering the Nazi spy activities in the United States. It was he, who, as reported yesterday, was largely responsible for the indictment by a Federal Grand Jury of eighteen prominent Nazi officials in the great United States spy hunt; Coming in the midst of the Grand Jury investigations before the accused are brought to trial, this hai greatly disturbed officials. Mr. Turrou was the/ chief investigator, and worked almost single-handed. Delay will be caused while his successor familiarises himself with the ramifications of the case. Mr. Turrou* reason of overwork and the need or an increase in income have been accepted by the department, which ( paid tribute to his work. He will still be available as a Government witness. None of the material witnesses held in the case have been eliminated or freed. This is significant, inasmuch as six are officers or members of the crews of German ships, including two captains, a political officer, and a radio officer.

SUSPICIONS OF GBIEBL. The "New York Times" comments today on the < extraordinary fact thtf Griebl (who fled to Germany) was never guarded to prevent his flightSince yesterday's indictment it has been, fnKed that the authorities were aware of several suspicious actions W Griebl. One charge shows that he previously went to Germany, allegedly on espionage business Another says that he conferred' with von Bonin, CWet of the Naval Intelligence Service, and Menzel, his assistant, in aee duty at the German War Ministry, af the Hotel Eden infierlln, on June J, 1937. Another alleges that he_arranged a rendezvous with Heifler, head of the German Secret Service, at [the Astoria Club in Bremen on June 23 in 9 a 37 ieading article the "New York Times* urges the fact that there is no Son for Public spy .scare nointing out that the operative! concerLTwere really inept plotters and obtained litue 01 value. Though doubtless Germany J* anxious to share the United State, advance in defence technique, especl ally in aviation, much of the information gained could have been elicited by a courteous letter. ' "Yet this stealthy nrymg into our affairs is mischievous Sfnnoying," adds the newspaper. "If the trial justifies the charges, tiie whole affair should he cleaned up promptly." - ■ .■■ FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. The "New York Herald-Tribune" savs that the investigations are now S concentrated onthe.person..and organisations responsible for -m* flight of the defendants and material wttnesses who fled the country* This taffies two large steamship lines and several executives of I those wAt llast one member of the^Gestapoi (Nazi Secret Police), says the newspaper, stressed that only the_ surface had been scratched up to the present.