Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-05
THE OREYFUS CASE,
Additional Information from the
Atlanta Man.
UNITED STATES CONCERNED.
Consular Seals Of This Government Used
In Underground System.
THE PROCEEDINGS At RENNEs.

A Doubtful Witness.

Doubtful Witness.
ATLANTA, GA, September i.-Tho
gentleman who claims 10 know hoy the
French War-Ofice secrets reached Ger
many. and the names Of those instru-
mental in their transfer from France was
seen to-day by the Atlanta representative
OF the Associated 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 ampify and TO elucidate statements
there made was obtained. The additional
and Mountaineering information was
elected that the letter-heads, envelopes,
and consular seals of the United States
Government were used as a safeguard i'm
transmitting the French War-Onice docu-
ments from that country to Germany, and
also that one of the chief actors in the
underground system at the time tie
traffic in French War-Omce merchandise
was going on held the position Of United
States Vice. Consul in a little German city.
HIS NAME BENTHEIM.
The informant gives his name as Charles
Z. Bentheim. and his discharge papers,
which are regular and duly signed. show
that he was private in Company NJ,
2O2d New York Volunteers, during the war
with Spain. He was made brigade clerk
TO General w. c. oates. and accompanied
the 2,2d New York to Cuba. lie WAS the
only man of that regiment who was mus
tered out in Washington.
The paper addressed TO the Adju;aAt-
Generals Office in Washington. recon-
monding his discharge. is duly signed by
William L. Horton, assistant adju'nt-
general, First Brigade, Third Division,
Second Army Corps.
Since he left the service Of the United
States Bentheim has been travelling ever
the South, and is at present ON MS way
from Montgomery 10 Washington, where
he says he Will visit the sculptor Trenta-
move.
Bentheim says he has no interest In the
matter. and wishes 40 notoriety.
HOW THE WORK WAS DONE.
"The obtaining Of intelligence regard
ing the French army and navy sdld
Benthcim was operated by the Secret
Service Department of the Imperial MIN
istry Of Marine. When a document was
obtained from any Of the officers III
Paris f. was taken 10 Prince Heinrich
Hans Pless. the German representative
i'm Paris. Through him it went TO the
house OF one of his sweethearts, where
copv WAS made 4 few hours later the
original papers were returned 90 the ONCE
from whence they came. The next move
was 10 get these papers 10 Beilln.
Herr Franz a toy manufacturer AT
Sonneberg. Germany. aided in this. He
would send dolls TO Paris 10 be dressed
In the body of these little playthings the
copies OF drawings and descriptive hoIes
were placed. From there they were sent
TO Homer0ok, a village I'm England where
another agent was located. He was Herr
Lindau. at that time "a partner In some
mining operations being carried on there.
Lindau remailed the dolls 10 Herr Franz
IN Sonneberg. and once there they were
safe. From SOnneberg they were brought
10 German headquarters by Herr / rah%'
where | translated many descriptions
Herr Alvin Florschutz bank dlrec-
tor of Sonneberg. was also In the scheme.
He was the United States Nice-CohsuI
there.
"Was the doll plan the only modus
operandi for communicating between the
two countries"
DOCUMENTS IN L. S. ENVELOPES.
"Oh. no." replied Mr.. Bentheim' "sev-
eral times / received documents of this
kind in the regular United States consul
envelope. l remember it distinctly. The
correspondence which was carried on be-
tween the few people concerned in the
War-Ofice traffic was always done on
letter-heads bearing the one-line inscrlp-
tion United States Consulate, Some
berg Nearly all the descriptions OF war
vessels. new inventions, armor-plate, etc,
were on letter-heads bearing the inscrip-
ton AIinistre de Ia Marine, Paris, or
'Nlinistre de la Guerre. Paris. Nhen-
ever Frigate-Captain Sigl, who was IN
charge of this work at Berlin, went out
on a scouting trip by himself, he carried
q supp.y Of United States stationery, and
I have seen information from the French
War Office come into the stan headquar-
ters in an envelope bearing the consular
seal of the United States Government"
Mr. Benthiem described minutely the
Milan followed for securing the coveted IN
formation. and mentioned many cases
i'm point. which were highly interesting
He signined his willingness TO go before
a notary public and make oath as to the
truth Of his statements