Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-22
GOVERNMENT HAS SUMMONED 100
WITNESSES TO TESTIFY AGAINST
HAMBURG AMERICAN OFFICIALS

New York. Nov. Clone hundred
witnesses or more to testify against
high officials of the Hamburg Ameri-
ran line al their trial on charges Of
conspiracy. which begins Monday.
have been summoned by the govern
ment. it was announced Saturday The
trial probably Will last a week. Four
Of the FIVE defendants have pleaded
not guilty, and the fifth has not been
apprehended The maximum penalty
for the crime charged is two years
imprisonment and $1,000 fine on TWO
indictments
Charge OF Fraud
Tie defendants are Kari Buenz,
managing director Of the line, in con-
troll of q great feet Of German mer-
chantmen and liners which sailed un-
der the Hamburg American house
flag Adolph Hochmeister, purchasing
agent of the line; Joseph Poppenhaus,
q second ofncer in the lines employ;
George kotter superintendent Of the
line, and Felix Sefner, alleged super.
cargo on one of the vessels which
sailed TO the aid Of German cruisers.
SefTner has not yet been found
A charge unique in American juris-
prudence faces them-conspirac to
defraud and deceive the government
by obtaining clearance papers on false
To facilitate the trial
counsel for the defence admits that
the defendants chartered ships and
sent them with supplies 10 the Ger
man cruisers Karlsruhe Kaiser Will
helm and other German men of war
active in the Atlantic in the late
and early fall If 1914, as
charged. hut denies that these acts
constitute a conspiracy 70 defraud or
deceive the United states.
The intent. it is CLAIMED. was 10 de-
ceve the allies. instead
Ready Before War
So well did the German agents know
that war was inevitable, the govern
mert charges. that some of the Is ships
the war began and several actually
sailed on their alleged errands Of war
before war had accually been declar-
ed. To support these and other charg
es. numerous affidaVits have been TAX
en- by the government.
One of them relates TO an occurrence
aboard the Maria Quesada. steamer
sailing from Newport News, Va. in
October, 1914. ostensibly for Valparaiso.
This steamer, the government
charges. had aboard q German super
cargo, as did all the other vessels in
Volved. Whe the steamer failed to
ind the German cruiser she was seek
ing, the affidavit recitcs. she cruised
about for some time and finally put
into Pernambuco. The Brazilian au-
thorit,es, apparently suspicious, sought
her papers. These, the affidavit con-
tinues, the captain refused 10 surren-
der, but placed them in a bag and
threw them overheard. He then mott
fed the Brazilian cruiser sent out to
MIN that he had lost his papers
Papers Found in Shark
Several days later, the affidavit
states under oath, the papers, bag and
all. were found in the belly Of a shark
which some Brazilians had captured
and drawn upon shore.
In another instance, according to
Roger B. Wood, the assistant district
attorney IN charge Of the prosecution.
the government is prepared to prove
that the Hamburg American line paid
S350010 TO the owners Of an American
vessel which had ben sold under Brit
ish prize court order. The vessel was
the Lorenzo, which sailed Aug. from
New York with supplies, il is charg-
ed, for German cruisers in the West
Indies and the amount represents her
full value
Seven hundred and filthy thousand dol
lars Of German money, the defendants
admit, was spent in chartering and out
fitting four vessels for relief OF the cruis-
ers. This money, the government is pre-
pared to prove, according TO Mr. Wood
was placed in a New York bank to the
credit Of man who was told to spend
II under direction OF Captain X Boy-ed
the German naval attache, and was spent
IN accordance with these instruct ions
Millions of dollars the government com
putes, were spent in chartering and sup
plying the Is vessels which figure in the
charges.
Supplies for Warshps
What these vessels sought to carry
to the German cruisers. the government
charges, was virtually complete supply
Of the things needed by the warshps,
from cigars. wine and cigarettes TO coal,
fresh water, sauerkraut and lubricating
oil. In two Instances, il is charged, COM
plete water condensing apparatus was
carried so that the salt sea water might
be condensed for drinking purposes.
Among the many men under subpoena
by the government is an eyewitness of
the naval battle in the fall of 1914 be-
tween the German and British converted
cruisers Cap Trafalgar and Carmania
The Cap Trafalgar was sunk in this fight
and the Carmania almost shared her en-
erays fate. It is charged that the Cap
Trafalgar was one of the German war
ships to which the defendant sought to
send supplies.
Two Of the Is ships, il is charged, sail
ed from Pacific ports, and two others.