B—— appeared in Seattle early in December, 1917, and took rooms at the P—— Hotel. From his acts it was immediately noted by our operatives at the hotel that B—— was receiving packages under the assumed name of W. J. H——, which name he explained to the clerk was used as a code. He received no visitors except two persons of foreign birth, and it developed that upon going to the hotel he was without ready money to sustain his expenses. Within a short time, however, B—— was found to have not only sufficient funds to maintain his daily expenses, but quite a surplus, which he was using lavishly. He claimed to be a working man, but his hands, dress and facial appearance were certainly those of a man who was accustomed to appearing in society, and taking life rather easy.
Following certain suspicious activities on the part of B——, an investigation thereof disclosed the fact that he was having considerable correspondence with Germans in the United States, and that he had the names and addresses apparently of every German in the United States. It further developed that he had cards made in Seattle, representing himself as being connected with a bank in Detroit. He was placed under arrest and sent to the Detention Station in the Department of Immigration to establish his nationality and status. He claimed to have been taking orders for a toy balloon concern on W—— Avenue, the proprietor of which stated that B—— had worked for him on a commission basis, but that his total commissions for the first year would amount to about $86.00, approximately. This was the merest trifle compared to the totals believed to have been spent by the subject, and he evidently had some other source of income than that derived from toy balloons.
The subject was well educated, spoke four or five languages, and it developed that he had formerly held a commission of lieutenant in the Austrian army. B—— was a sketch artist, very clever, and in passing through the country, was accustomed to make landscape scenes of various places of interest from a military standpoint—which sketches, together with certain puzzle sketches, were believed by the officers of the organization to be for the purpose of furnishing information to the enemy.
The specific charge was thought by him to be that he was an I. W. W., and he requested the permission of the Immigration authorities to address a letter to a friend, which permission was given. This letter, which, of course, was censored by the authorities, addressed a German at Bremerton, close to the Navy Yard, and complained of his arrest as an I. W. W. He informed this friend that he had done a great many things which he “had been ordered to do,” but that he was not, nor had he been, requested to be an I. W. W., and he requested aid for his release.
A very complete examination was made of B—— and his entire movements since arriving in this country. It developed that he was born at Frankstock, Moravia, in Austria; that he was twenty-four years of age, had had military training, had just completed same prior to departing for this country, and was a Second Lieutenant in the 54th Royal Imperial Infantry. He was in Hamburg and Paris during 1914, and just prior to the outbreak of the war, he came to New York, passing through England on this trip, since which time it developed that he had been receiving money from Germany, and had been operating in the cities of Hoboken, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Seattle, Helena and Spokane. Regardless of the fact that he was heir to an estate in Austria and was supposed to have reported to the consul (Austrian) in Seattle, he claimed he had not done so.
In explanation of the alias, W. J. H——, he claimed to have adopted that name simply because his name was funny. It developed that B—— had been previously arrested and released, and had in his possession documents covering his entire experiences, as well as information concerning his particular case. Certain documents, undoubtedly codes, were taken from B——, and the only information or explanation he would give concerning them was that they were puzzles. The subject was well acquainted with the German element in each of the towns he had visited, many of whom were held under suspicion by the authorities. It further developed that he had made frequent visits to the ship-yards and to the Navy Yards, and that he was intimately associated with certain leaders of the order of the I. W. W. He was ordered interned, and sent to Utah.
It never was urged against Seattle that she displayed anything but live wire characteristics, and it is too bad that we may not delve deeper into the Seattle files. The Chief adds: “We have many other cases, perhaps of more importance.” The existing records bear out the assertion. But we must dismiss this big center of activity with only a brief summary of tables showing six months’ work of the Minute Men Division of the American Protective League for Seattle. The situation revealed by this summary, astounding as it is, and humiliating as it must be to make the admission, is one that finds a parallel in the experience of every great industrial center in America during the war.
| TABLE OF CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE SEATTLEDIVISION OF THE AMERICAN PROTECTIVE LEAGUE | |
| Report for Six Months, May 1 to November 1, 1918. | |
| Alien Enemies | 399 |
| Aliens and Citizens Living in Luxury Without Visible Means of Support | 36 |
| Anti-Military Activities | 23 |
| Bomb and Dynamite Cases | 14 |
| Passport Applications | 1,114 |
| Loyalty Reports to Government | 707 |
| Alleged Deserters | 93 |
| Destruction of Foods | 8 |
| Disloyal Citizens | 677 |
| Disloyal Government Employees | 35 |
| Draft Evaders | 86 |
| Incendiarism | 4 |
| Food Regulation Violators | 239 |
| Liberty Bond and Red Cross Slackers | 938 |
| I. W. W. Agitators | 1,198 |
| Pro-German Radicals | 990 |
| Sale of Liquor to Soldiers and Sailors | 64 |
| Alleged Spies or German Agents | 451 |
| Seditious Meetings | 91 |
| Seditious Publications | 53 |
| Seditious Utterances | 449 |
| Wireless Stations | 21 |
| Naturalization Cases | 386 |
| Jurors | 542 |
| Miscellaneous | 624 |
| Total | 10,042 |
| Total number of arrests made | 1,008 |
There came up in the Birmingham, Ala., Division the character investigation of R. E. S——, a lieutenant in the United States Army, reported to be in the Military Intelligence Department, foreign service. This man lived in Birmingham several years before the declaration of war, and moved with the best people. He always seemed to have enough money for the demands of society, although his business was limited in its earning capacity. He attended a training camp and received a commission, but after he had arrived in France, the War Department requested an investigation through the League. The result shows that danger existed at all times from German explosives even in the most jealously guarded places. Below is given the substance of the investigation. The first operative reported:
I have known S—— for several years, and have always been impressed with his pro-German tendencies. He lived in comparative comfort, belonged to all of the clubs and moved in the best society. He never appeared to be lacking in funds in spite of the fact that the income from his position, and later his business, did not warrant his living in this manner. It was understood that he had no investments producing income. I have thought for the past four years that he received money from the German Government, and have so expressed myself on many occasions.