New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-18
ZONE OF SAFETY
in LINER CASE
FOR DIPLOMATS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Order to Prevent New
German Complication.
STALLS CONVICTION
REGARDED CERTAIN
Federal Agents Hint Koenig'
Secret Service Head Here,
Inspired Affidavits.

1t was learned on reliable author
ity Yesterday that there is little likel-
hood of a diplomatic expose" in the
Stahl-Lusitania afidacit scandal now
under investigation by the Federal
Grand Jury. Should the trail OF the
alleged conspiracy lead-as it did IN
the Stegler passport scandal seVeral
months ago-to German officials, fed
eral agents have been instructed not
to make any phase Of such disclosures
public.
This order, it was said, came from
Washington. and was made with vie"
Of eliminating as much as possible any
further friction between this country
and Germany. Under provisions Of IN
+orrationai law diplomatic and consular
ronresentatives of loreign countries
cannot be criminally prosecuted IN
American courts. Tney are subject 10
me laws of their own respective couh'
tries. and the best this government
oo,ld do in case a foreign diplomat
made himself liable TO prosecution
through violation Of American statutes
would be to ask his recall and acquaih'
his home government with the facts IN
the case.
As far as could be ascertained' no
evidence has been discovered which VIII
;rnIicate any German official IN the
or;hiral phase OF the Lusitania am
davit case. although federal agents
limited that pecunlary interest may
have come from that quarter.
At least one, anu possibly more IN
dictments, may be returned TO-DAY "
the Federal grand jury which has been
Investigating the Lusitania afhdaVlt
scandal. According to Assistant United
States Attorney Roger B. WOOD 'he
veracity of Gustav Stahl, German ie-
servist and chief affidavit maker, has
been impeached by his own intimates
TO such an extent, that his conviction
on the perjury charge which the gov
ernnent has preferred against him is
practically certain.
Assistant Superintendent Baker o.
the local investigation bureau OF the
Department of Justice, intimated yes
terday that he suspected Paul Koenig,
chief of the secret service 81 the HAM
burg-Amer Line in this city, may
have been interested IN Hardenoerg
sudden disappearance.
eve have established that there was
some sort OF a relationship between
Koenig, the private detective and Har-
denberg, the jack-of-all-trades,' Mr..
Baker said. I'VE know that Koenlg, un-
der the name Of Stemler, approached
Stahl some time ago and asked him 20
try to help MIN find Hardenberg, for
whom he had an important mission.
Koenig knew that the two men were
intimatcs, and had been living together.
Stahl went TO Hoboken and also visited
Brooklyn iii an ostcusible effort TO find
Hardenberg. Then the first thing we
knew the Lusitania aiidavits had. been
made"
According to Mr.. Baker, Stahl de-
MES that he knew Stemler was in
reality Koenig of the Hamburg Ameri-
can Line. He still maintains his in
nccence and insists that he saw four
six-inch guns aboard the Lusitania.
But Captain William II. Ofiey, in
charge Of the Federal Investigation
Bureau, said yesterday that Stahl had
admitted he lied when he swOre he
went aboard the Lusitania with Neal
J. Leach, second class steward. Stahl
now insists that he visited the Lusi-
tania but refuses to give any particu-
lars.
Among yesterdays witnesses before
the Federal Grand Jury were Daniel
Jenny, a Swiss waiter and former
roommate of Stahl, and several Gus
toms inspectors who searched the Lu-
sitania before her fatal trip. Two of
the notaries, also, who prepared the
afidavits were called before the Fed
eral inquisitors and arc said to have
given valuable evidence.
The Federal prosecutors Office ad-
mitted yesterday that the affidavit OF
the Rev. Henry Brueckner, pastor Of
the German Seamen's Home. in Ho-
boken, had been received, but said
that no official coguiZance would be
taken Of IT, Dr. Bruockner swore that
he saw guns protruding from the deck
of the Lusitania while he was cross
ing the North River aboard Twenty
third Street ferryboat.
II is understood that, following the
testimony of Captain Turner Of the
Lusitania before an English Board OF
Inquiry 10 the effect that the Lusi-
tania was not armed, the Washington
authorities arc anxious TO have the
Federal Grand Jury determine the
truth or falsity Of Stahl's affidavit be
fore the receipt Of the reply to the
second American note TO Germany.