Mr. Adee to Mr. Hill.
Washington, August 31, 1904.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 54 of the 11th instant submitting, for the Department’s instructions with reference thereto, the application for a passport addressed to the legation by Jacob Wertli, through the American consulate at Zurich.
In reply I have to say that on April 16, 1877, passport No. 506 was issued to James M. Vertley, upon an application showing he was born in the city of Bremgarten, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, September 17, 1852. He submitted a certificate of naturalization issued by the Monroe County court, New York, September 25, 1876. On the application he signed his name twice as James M. Vertley, and the signature does not resemble in the least the signature of Jacob Wertli on the passport No. 60616, issued July 21, 1902, or upon the application made before the consulate at Zurich July 23, 1904.
The application of Jacob Wertli, upon which passport No. 60616 was issued July 21, 1902, stated he was born in St. Louis, Mo., September 22, 1851, that his father was a naturalized citizen of the United States, his permanent residence at St. Louis, and his occupation that of a civil engineer. Except that he says in his application at Zurich that he was born September 19, his allegations in the two applications agree. James M. Vertley was born September 17, 1852, and his height, when he was 24 years old, was 5 feet 3 inches, whereas Jacob Wertli’s height is 5 feet 4 inches. In other respects the descriptions are similar.
The discrepancy in the names and in the places of birth and the dissimilarity in penmanship would seem to indicate that James M. Vertley and Jacob Wertli are not the same person, and that Wertli is falsely impersonating Vertley.
A searching examination of Wertli should be made, supplemented by such independent investigation as may be possible. If a clear and satisfactory explanation of the suspicion of fraud surrounding the case is made, a passport may issue, but not otherwise. And if the suspicion of fraud is confirmed, an effort should be made to find out where the party or parties thereto in the United States are located, in order that the case may be referred to the Department of Justice.
I return, in accordance with your request, the inclosure to your dispatch, namely, Mr. Wertli’s passport application and his expired passport.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.