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Show I' Alleged German Spy j j May Escape Penalty I " WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 "tt'heihpr or jrot the United States navy has jurls-U jurls-U jMcion to try Hermann Ve3sels, alias jjari Rodiger, alleged German spy, and ; Ktfficer of the German navy who was Arrested last May in New York, but through a legal technicality escaped lxjal, will be fought out in the federal court at New York today when Wes-M Wes-M .sels is delivered by the navay auihor-1 auihor-1 , itie3 on a writ of habeas corpus. ,' Wessels, who was indicted for con- i n piracy to commit espionage during; II - June, 191S, before the espionage act J131I been passed, never has been jl brought to trial because of a require- 'K ntent of the statute that there must jj ! Ge two witnesses to an overt act be- .fore conviction for treason. If jurls- r .dic'.lon is granted by the federal court, 1 IQic naval authorities, it was said, pro- II, , Itiose to try Wessels under certain art!- (.1 liles of the navy providing the maxi- j ;mum penalty of death, jj If the navy Is denied jurisdiction, it r-i ;"f'as sa'd b' naval authorities today, j ihcrfa will remain no civil statute un- il tder which Wessels could bo convicted ij t ;gnd he probably will be freed. |