The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-03
Found Guilty Of Conspiracy to
Defraud United States Before
and During War
JURY WAS OUT WITH
CASE FOR SEVEN HOURS
Whether or Not German War
Craft Had teen Coaled or
Provisioned Was Not Issue
Judge Made Plain

New York. Dec. "A yerdict OF
guilty as charged on both indict-
ments," was pronounced shortly after
10 o'clock tonight in the United States
District Court by the Federal jury.
which. since u week ago last Mon
day. had been hearing the testimony
Of the governments charges against
the Hamburg American Line itself.
DIR. Kari Buenz, head of the line.
and the other Hamburg American
men, that they had consrired to de-
fraud the United States before and
after war was declared by falsely OBJ
tanning clearance papers for fleet
OF supply ships gent out By the de-
PENDANTS 10 coal and provision Ger
inan warships at sea
The jury reached a decision seven
hours after retiring, an hour Of which
-sIstu t,rer rpent in dining at res
taurant near the Federal building,
tstsffe- Dr. Buenz, the other men cur
sicted tonight. conviction whGh
lawyers and laymen who had followed
the trial. agreed tonight was the most
Important of It's kind returned since
war vas begun In Europe, were
the engineering superintendent of tho
Ha mburg American Line, George
tsuetter. Adolf Hachmeister, purchas-
s,e agent for the line. and Joseph
Poppinhsus. Hamburg American
Mns &c, Juc Years and $4,000 Fine,
DIR Buenx, now seventy-two years
oi age ona time German minister 10
Novice. and eminent throughout the
active part OF his life In the foreign
Office of the German government. and
!. der the Law. be sentenced To not more
than two years In Federal pr.sos
and fined not more than $4,000.
The governments &C sati n
agaiast them was not. as Judge Howe
pointed Out in his charge to the jury
this afternoon. one having anything
10 do with violation of neutrality
laws. The defendants we're convicted
because they had conspired to obtain
through manifests falsely sworn to,
destinations falsely sworn TO. and by
other irregular means. clearance pa
pArs for their fleet OF At least twelve
supply ships.
Charge Model Of Fairnere.
Whether or not the feet had coal
ed and provisioned German war craft
did not enter into the matter the sole
contention Of tho government was thas
the defendants. all subjects OF the
Kaiser, had ''overridden our laws" by
deceiving American collectors Of the
port. and thus had injured the United
States by obtaining false clearance
paners on n par with fraudulent pass
ports.
Judge Howe's charge. which he
read to the jury just before the twelve
retired at 2:49 r. NJ. was accepted
by the defense as well as the prosecu-
ton rs a model OF impartiality. In
view OF the case AS presented by As
Gistant United States Attorney Roger
b. Wood. however, 1t was the opinion
OF lawyers and laymen after hearing
the charge that It would be difficult
under the law for Jury to hiring in
any verdict but one Of guilt.
Immediately upon the return of the
verdict. William r. Jerome and How
ard Cans arose to make various mo-
tions for tho defense. Because Of the
aateness Of the hour, however. Judge
Howe adopted the suggestion OF MIR,
Wood that such motions be made to-
morrow.