The age-herald., 1899-09-07
BENTHEIM STICKS
 TO HIS STORY Guilt of Fiorschuetz Can be Easi-
 ly Ascertained. HE SUBMITS A SUGGESTION Will Give All Information in His Pos session to Any Duly Accredited Representative ofthe United
 States Government.
HE SUBMITS A SUGGESTION

Atlanta, Ga, September 6.-Charles D.
 Bentheim today reiterated to the Atlanta representative of the Associated Press the absolute truth of his statement involving Nice-Consul Florsehuetz in the German
 secret service work between Berlin and
 Paris.
 "of course Florschuetz will deny this,"
 said Bentheim, "but it can be easily fasten- ed on him. The point in the investigation really IS this: Inquire in the right direc-
 tion. There Is no use going to Fiorschuetz about this thing. He will naturally deny
 1t and the rage of the Germans will turn
 on us. Jf Florschuetz denies his connection
 with this matter let this question be put
 to him, For what purpose did Florschuetz
 hand over to me (Bentheim) a money or
 der calling for 1,500 marks, signed by the
 emperor?"
 What the honorable> secretary of state,
 Mr Hay, says about the vice-consul be-
 ginning in 1888 is absolutely correct. The
 German government wanted him made
 consul, but this position he was not al- lowed to fill because he was a German. I
 do not know positively that he was cashier
 of the bank at Sonneberg. He was a d. rector; Franz was director and his bank
 often figured in the handling of the secret funds as I have told you"
 "I will be wiling," said the artist, ito
 respectfully submit to the honorable sec
 retary of state the direction in which to lOOh IOI COINlHClHS SNiueUCe OI dll that l
 charge. l say again that Florscheutz was
 using his official position as vice and depu- ty consul to aid the German secret service,
 and between the years 1890 and 1891 he was
 actively engaged as confidential agent for the secret service. Let the honorable sec
 retary of state request the American ann
 bassador in London to get permission of
 the commissioner-general of postoffices in London and go to the village of Holmrook and examine the postoffce records there which are not destroyed. Evidence there in black and white will show the truth of every assertion I have made"
 What course do you suggest for the securing of informat tion regarding the Ger man branch of this service?"
 'It would be manifestly impolitic to make that public. As I say, am willing to re- speetfuly submit any suggestions to an accredited representative of the United States government regarding a way in which the matter may be ferreted out. Once our hand is shown, the German gov efnment will effectually destroy every bit of evidence which will yet confirm what I say; while it will be difficult to prove from physical evidence furnished by the papers themselves that the letterheads and envelopes were used by Florsehuetz, be- cause these papers are in the secret archives in the war office in Berlin, yet evidence can be secured. It can be proven between 1890 and 1894 that Florschuetz was ' office merchandise
 "rhe presumption that he prostituted his office will be strong. This can be proven. Florsdhuetz did handle the German secret service money in this matter I can give dates and details regarding the handling of this money which cannot be disputed" Benthem is evidently man of remark able memory. The facility with which he mentions names and dates could come only of long association. He is a man of attain ments and polished manners. He says he wants no money for anything he may have in the way of knowledge in this matter, and modestly protests against the promi- hence which has been given him. He claims to be Jew, and is believed by the few peo- pie who have met him to be one He speaks with strong German accent, yet there is a trace of Hebrew in the lines of his face. His manner is that of a frank and honest man.
 Regarding the charge made by some
 body tht he enlisted in the United States army under an assumed name Bentheim says: That is nonsense The steamer which brought me over here in 1898 was the Russia. She sailed from Bremen. I don't remember the name of the line but
 a perusal of the books of the company in
 New York will show my name there if the documents are properly kept"
 Bentheim was pressed further on his recollection of the appearance of the docu- mentS or the French war office as they reached him. "I can recall many of them ' he said, "and I think if I were to put my self to it l could write you a description of a torpedo boat or war vessels as han dled by me. You know at the top of the sheet describing a certain boat would be | the word rapport This would be under- scored and on line by itself. Under this was generally written: 'Surles experiences, | fates, avec le Goubet, bateau sous ma- | rine Here would follow the mode of des- | cription and method of maneuvering the l boat.
 1 lover on the left-hand side of the pa- l per border of, say two inches, was clear. | This was used for comments on the mat l ter in the report. For instance, such notes | as Could not get model Minimum 1O00, , | etc., would be seen. These comments were | found in the description of the submarine 1 boat Goubet. In case where they were
 complete this paper would be taken by the 1 proper party, who would write in this bor- ! der, 1000, 5000, 10000 This meant marks | and was to be used in procuring further
 details This showed what the German l government was willing to pay for it. If | the man in whose possession the informa- | tion was held wanted 10000 francs, the 1 groups marked 1000 and 5000 would be | marked off. This was the way of matter | in which pay in one branch was made | known but there was always an effort
 made to keep from writing anything more l on these documents"