CARAN

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 at 14:23:37 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, May 2, 1918
Page 1

Cliff Leap Ends Life Of Spy

Impelled either by loyalty to his paymaster, the Kaiser, or fearing execution at the hands of the federal authorities when the extent of his spying activities became known, Pedro Caran, a Turk, leaped to his death over a fifty-foot cliff Sunday at Angel Island where he was held pending full investigation of charges made against him.

Carah and Latif Lecayf, a companion, were arrested a few days ago on a presidential warrant. Most of the evidence in the hands of the authorities, it is said, was against Caran, and without his confession the charges against Lecayf will be hard to substantiate.

Caran suddenly broke away from his guard while walking from one building to another Sunday afternoon, and leaped over the cliff. Striking on the beach below and his legs crumpling under him, he pitched forward into the water and drowned before he could be reached.

The verdict of the jury Monday night at the inquest held by Coroner F. E. Sawyer was suicide by drowning.

Among Caran’s effects were a passport and a number of steamship tickets, showing that he had traveled extensively, and it is believed that his employment was spreading German propaganda. His check book showed stubs for large sums, several of them of $1,000. When found he had considerable money on his person. He was about 30 years of age.