Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-03
The eHamburgLine Officials Guilty
JURY RETURNED ADVERSE YER.
 DICT ON TWO INDICTMENTS
CoNsPIRED TO DEFRAUD
Maximum Penalty for Each Indict- ment Is Two Years Imprisonment and $1o,ooo Fine-sentenee Not Im- posed.

New York, Dec. 9.-Three high off, cials and a subordinate officer of the Hamburg American line were found guilty tonight in the federal district court of having violated the laws of the United States in sending coal and other supplies to German cruisers in the South Atlantic in the first few months of the European war. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on each of two indictments.
 Sentence Not Imposed.
 The specific charge against the de- fendants was conspiracy to deceive and defraud the United States. The max two years Imprisonment and 10,000 fine. Sentence was not imposed to- night and because of the late hour when the verdict was reached, Judge Howe deferred till tomorrow morning a hearing on the formal motions to set aside the verdict and arrest judg- ment which the defense is sure to of fer. A date for passing sentence will then be designated.
 Only One Ballot Taken.
 In reaching it's decision, the jury is reported to have taken but one ballot and this after several hours of dis cussion of the evidence in minute de- tail. The jury was given the case at 2.40 o'clock this afternoon. Its | | the verdict at 1910 o'clock tonight, seven and one-half hours later
 Appeal May Be Taken. An appeal, it seemed certain tonight, will be made to the federal court of appeals and in case the verdict is up- held to the supreme court of the United States. In the meantime the defendants will probably remain at liberty under 5000 bail each, as it is the present intention of the govern | ment not to ask that the bond be in- l creased.
 Four Defendants Affected, The four defendants affected by the verdict are pr. Karl Buenz, manag- ing director of the Hamburg American line in New York city, former German consul-general here, former German minister to Mexico and German com missioner in the Venezuela arbitra- tfon proceedings before The Hague l tribunal George Kotter, general super intendent of the line; Adolph Hach- 1 meister, general purchasing agent, and Joseph Poppinghaus, a former officer Tn the German navy, at present a sec ond officer in the Hamburg American supercargo on one of the neutral steamers sent to supply the German i fleet, was not brought to trial He was captured by the British while on ms errand or rel1ef and is at the pres ent time a prisoner in a Canadian de- tentfon camp.
 Took Verdict Calmly. The defendants took the verdict ] calmly. After the jury had filed out Dr. Buenz turned and shook hands with Kotter, sitting at his left "Aut i wiedersehen," he said and Kottel echoed the words. Hachmeister sat 1 silent. Poppinghaus said in broken English: T do not care. This is not 1 the last word"
 Defendants counsel was silent as tc the verdict. Roger B. Wood, the as- sistant United States district attorney who conducted the governments case | had this to say:
 | This verdict means only one thine 1 that the laws of the United States must be observed by citizens of al | the belligerent powers;. that if oul
 laws are violated by any one of then | and the American government finds il
 out, they will be prosecuted"