The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 3

BROOKLYN EAGLE, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1943 t(J U4t 1 Spy Pair Plead Guilty, Face Death or 30 Years Art. i iff" 4 t-xXSFl all the roomers, as demanded by higher-up Nazi agents. And recital of the many vital details written in invisible ink and the presentation of the confidential book of plans a Brewster airplanes, knocked the defense of "harmless twaddle" into a cocked hat. Lehmitz was born in Germany and naturalized here in 1924. In 1938 he went back to Germany, took a course in an espionage school there and began spy operations here early in 1941.

DeSpretter was born In Uruguay of German parents, and was educated in Heidelberg and other German colleges and engl neering schools and attained th eminence of "lieutenant engineer" in the German army. e-r- iJSszs- cSt-iti i Wifes Jnf iJjfiCT WOUNDED INT ITALIAN PUSH An American soldier wounded in the bitter fighting in Italy, being carried aboard a landing craft which sped him to a waiting medical caught them, and when nothing more in the way of evidence could be added, the guilty plea was permitted. It precludes an appeal and leaves only a review on the sole question of whether a sentence of death, if imposed, should be commuted. The defendants, it was said, are pinning their hopes on such a precedent established by President Roosevelt in another case recently. At the out.set the two spies advanced as a defense a story that they were sending "harmless twaddle" to Nazi agents stationed in Portugal and Spain, neutral countries, to which mail and messages from here could be sent with-out war censorship.

Lehmitz told FBI men after his arrest that he quit after writing "Letter No. 26." dated April 11, 1942, because the sight of a neighbor's son going to war touched his heart. Tried to 'Pump' Neighbor The FBI agents were ready to prove, if it had been necessary as rebuttal, that children of his immediate neighbors joined the armed forces long before April, 1942, and one of the neighbors told a reporter for the Brooklyn Eaale that Lehmitz continually inquired: "Where is your boy?" "I never realized that he was a spy, but we never told him where our sons were located," one neighbor declared. The "last letter" by Lehmitz wound up with a sharp demand for money and stated that he was losing his home because he had ousted The two Staten Island spies, Ernest Frederick Lehmitz, 57, and Erwin Harry deSpretter, 52, face death in the electric chair, or at least 30 years in prison, when they are sentenced Tuesday by Judge Byers In Brooklyn Federal Court. Their trial for conspiring to send American military information to the Nazi war lords halted abruptly after the Government had com-pleted its evidence against them yesterday, and the pair announced they wished to plpad guilty, "Are you aware of the court's responsibility if you plead guilt Judge.

Byers asked each in turn. Lehmitz and deSpretter nodded affirmatively. When the jury was selected at the beginning of the trial, Judge Byers asked each juror whether a sentence of death in the event the defendants were proven guilty as charged on the evidence, would prevent such a verdict. Judge Byers excused a gold star mother from serving on the Jury and five with sons on the battle lines were chal-langed by defense lawyers, Arthur Garfield Hays and Joseph Henry Wackerman. Fare Sing Sing hair United States Attorney Harold M.

Kennedy said that if the death sentence is imposed, the men will be executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing. The two spies a.ked to be allowed to plead guilty when the trial began, but, Judge Byers declined to accept it at that time "because of the possible consequences." At the end of testimony by FBI men who SEA DRAMA A dramatic meeting takes place as American forces in the invasion fleet pass an Italian submarine bound to surrender at an Allied Mediterranean port. Opponent HitsSprague On Tax Counsel Fees lucky' Ship's Officer Missing Chief Officer Ansgar Lunrie, 29. of 675 59th Queens, today was reported missing in action 13 months after a narrow escape from a torpedoed ship. His wife.

Astrid, received a letter from him two months ago in Sweater Seen as Clue In 'Masked Marvel' Killing Hollywood, Sept. 17 (U.PJ Detectives hoped today that a blu sleeveless sweater found in the back of "Masked Marvel" David G. Bacon's automobile might point to the person who stabbed the actor to dpath Sunday. On the eve of today's inquest, authorities found the sweater in the back of the blood-soaked midget automobile driven by the 29-year-old Boston scion on the fatal afternoon. His widow, concert singer Greta Keller, said it was not her husband's sweater.

'Declaring that the Nassau County i to Russel and Hurley for services as treasury has 'made huge expends by the Japs at Singapore. Ho caught the last ship to leave the bland. Last year his ship was torpedoed off Trinidad. Days later Lunde was picked up by the Guard and sent home for a two months rest. which he expressed hope of getting a leave.

Lunrie has had many hairbreadth escapes since lvs entered the merchant -marine. Remembering the other lucky breaks, Mrs. Lunde is confident she will get a telegram stating that he has been found safe, "probably sipping cocoanut milk on some lonely island I hope." Lunde narrowly missed capture special counsel for the county in tax matters, to the late David Bandler, the Bandler Tax Search and Abstract Company and to W. 'Wesley Copp Jr. for brokerage commissions." At the same time Sprague disclosed that the county had collected $8,409,000 in delinquent taxes during his incumbency and added: "In 1936 when Nassau had to take decisive action unpaid taxes had accumulated for all previous years to the alarming figure of $8,458,000 or 40 percent of the year's tax levy.

lures to a very small group," Herman Block of 280 Broadway, Manhattan, candidate for Nassau County executive, today accused J. Rus-tel Sprague, incumbent, of paying $1,000,000 to tax attorneys during the last six years. "We have been digging into the records of the county treasury and ttie county controller," Block declared, "and undoubtedly that fact as been reported to Mr. Sprague. Dur investigation shows payments of almost $1,000,000 have been made It was decided to obtain special counsel rather than set up a costly title plant in the county attorneys office." HELP SHORTEN THE WAR! BUY WAR BONDS'.

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