The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-05

to Protect the Precious Docu-
ments From the Eyes Of French
Army Secret Service Agents-How
Esterhazy and Several Women
Were In the Deals.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 4-The man who
claims to know how the French war Of
flee secrets reached Germany and the
names OF those instrumental in their
transfer from France was seen today by
the Atlanta representative of the AS
scciated Press. All the matter given IN
the Jewish Sentiment story, sent out IN
these dispatches Thursday night, was
gone over and substantiated as far as
possible. and much information tending
to ampIify and elucidate statements there
made was obtained. The additional and
highly interesting information was elicit
ed that the letterheads, envelopes and
consular seals of the United States gov
ernment were used as a safeguard III
transmitting the French war office docu-
ments from that country to Germany, and
also that one of the chief actors in the
underground system at the time the
traffic in French war Office merchandise
was going on held the position of United
States vice consul in a little German city
The informant gives his name as
Charles E. Bentheim, and his discharge
papers, which are regular and duly sign
ed. show that he was a private in Com
pany NJ, Two Hundred and Second New
York volunteers, during the war with
Spain. This is his story:
BENTHEINIS STORY.
''I was born in Denver and am thirty
six years Of age. When quite young I
was sent to Paris to be educated, I went
to several countries on the frontier, pur-
suing my studies, and finally to Germany
Here I was employed as a translator of
documents and map engraver, and was
in the headquarters of the general staff
at Koniggratzerstrass Berlin. During
my service there I several times translat-
ed papers bearing information concerning
French fortiffcation, arsenals, warships
and land plans, and knew all those con-
ccrred IN the purchase of this informa
ton When a document was obtained
from the office of the minister Of marine
or war department in Paris, it was taken
to Prince Heinrich Hans Pless, the Ger
man representative at staff headquarters,
in an envelope bearing the consular seal
of the United States government This
you will know was a safeguard, as no
body would open letter with this seal
on 1t. Floreschuetz did more travelling
for Germany into France than either Sigl
or Franz, and he always had some Of this
paper in his satchel He would not go
into France direct, as that would bring
upon him too close scrutiny at the from
tier. He would go first to Bremen, and
from there to Southampton Thence he
would go either to Toulon or Cherbourg,
and land without any trouble.
II will tell you how FIoreschuetz got
plans of the new torpedo boat Goubert
while 1t was being built at Toulon This
Floreschuetz told me later, within a
week or two after he returned from the
expedition. He landed at Toulon and
went to a hotel He sent a note to Nine
Jansen, telling her what he wanted,
and then proceeded to Monte Carlo for a
day or two at the tables It was ar
ranged, of course, If there was any
trouble over the work word would be
sent him Nine. Jansen is the wife Of a
naval officer, and had the entree to the
arsenal at Toulon. She secured all the
information, and it was handed TO NIerr
Floreschuetz on his return to Toulon in
less than one week.
WOMAN IN THE PLOT.
Information regarding the construc-
tiOn Of the war vessel GymnOte at that
time building at Cherbourg, was obtain
ed in the same manner in Paris. Through
him it went to the house of one of his
sWeethearts, where a COPY was made.
few hours later the original paper was
returned to the office from whence it
came. The next move was to get these
papers to Berlin. Herr Franz. a TOW
manufacturer at Sonneberg, Germany.
aided in this. He would send dolls to
Paris to be dressed. In the bodies Of these
little playthings these copies of drawings
and descriptive notes were securely sew
ed and started on their journey to the
Fatherland. From Paris they were sent
by post to Polmrook a village in Eng
land. Here another agent was located
he was Herr Lindau, at that time part
rer In some mining operations being car
Tled on there. Lindau performed his
duty by remailing the doll messengers to
Herr Franz, at Sonneberg, and once
there they were safe From Sonneberg
they were brought to headquarters by
t
Once 1 recollect a document of this
nature was brought in by the burgomas-
ter of Lefpsic, whose name 1 cannot re.
call. Herr Alvin F1oreschuetz, banker
OF Sonneberg, was also in the scheme
About this time, by the way" said Mr.
Bentheim, Herr Floreschuetz was rec
commended by the German government
TO the United States government as con-
sui OF this country at Sonneberg. He
was accepted, and, later on, being al
lowed money for clerk hire, put his wife
IN that position, giving her name on the
documents as L. Floreschuetz. All this
tlme the traffic in war merchandise as
II was called, was going on, Herr Flore.
schuetz was vice consul for the fTnited
States at Sonneberg."
Was the doll scheme the on11 mo, ne
OF communication between the two coun-
tr1es?' was asked Mr.. Bentheim.
AMERICAN CONSUL AIDED
'Oh, no." replied Mr.. Bentheim. "Thare
was a way through the American consul
AT one time 1 remember receiving a doc
ument in large white envelope. franked
and with a penalty notice on the envelope
sealed on the back with a large white
seal, with a gold border. The eagle was
the center figure, and above it were the
words United States consulate
"On the other half of the circle and be-
low the eagle was the single word, Son
neberg There was, of course, consfdera-
bic correspondence going on, between