Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-20
HAVE CLUES TO A
NATION WIDE PLOT
U. S. Officers Believe They Have
Unearthed Details Of Conspiracy
to Blow Up War Plants.
ARRAIGN KoENIG AND ANOTHER

NEW YORK, Dec. i 19.---With the
arraignment here today OF Paul
Koenig, said to be the head OF the
German secret service in this coun-
try. and Richard Emil Leyendecker.
New York art goods dealer. on a
charge OF conspiring 20 blow up the
Welland canal, federal officials as
serted they had In their hands the
clues to a countrywide conspiracy
TO blow up munition plants. which
has already resulted in the loss OF
many lives and destruction OF mil
lions OF dollars worth of property,
For several years KoenIg has been the
head OF detective force employed here
by the Hamburg-American Steamship
company. The company. which is sub
sidlzed by the German government was
quick TO come to his aid and through a
local surety concern supplied $4,000 bail
for him aud $4,000 bail for Leyendecker.
Bank Clerk Arrested.
The arrest OF Koenig and Lyondecker
was coincidont with the arrest by county
authorities OF Frederick Scheindi. clerk
In tho National City bank schelndl. de-
tectives claimed. confessed that no was
employed by Koenig TO supply him with
information regarding the shipment OF
munitions 10 the allies.
This information was obtained through
telegrams and letters received by Ma
tionai City bank which has had a promi-
nent part In the purchasing In this coun-
try OF supplies for the allies, scheindi
said he received SIS week from Koenig.
police added. scheindl told tho police
that he is a German reservlst and that
he acted solely from patriotic motives,
scheindi was arraigned before a police
magistrate on an affidavit charging him
with completely In the larceny OF docu-
ments and messages valued at 10000.
from the National City bank. He was
held in $4,000 bail for hearing Monday.
offers to "sduenl."
Important evidence regarding Koenlg's
activities Is understood to have been OBJ
talned from Frederick Metxler, who was
arrested in connection with Koenig and
Leyendecker. Metsler also was employed
by the HamburE-American line and acted
as stenographer to Koenig. He was TO
have been arraisned with HIS chief and
Leyendecker. hut mt the iaat moment n
was announced by Assistant United
States Attorney Wood. who Is In charge
OF the case that Metzler was not 60 APP
pear.
Later high federal official admitted
that Metzisr had offered 20 turn states
evidence and had already supplied the
government with much valuable infor-
nation.
/ Az soon as II was known that Mstzier
would not be arrhiened. two attorneys
acting for the Hamburg- American line
went 70 the federal authorities and asked
permission to see him. This request was
refused The attorneys then offered any
amount OF bail 90 secure Metsier's liberty.
This offer also was refused. Metkier,
who had been examined az police head
quarters during tho night, was taken
away early today and no information
would be vouchsafed az 10 where he was
being held.
BIeuth Suspended.
A new development occurred in tho
case late today when Otto r. MottoIa, a
police headquarters detective. was sus-
pended after hearing by Commissioner
Woods. Mottola was summoned before
the commissioner after the police said
they found his name IN a note book taken
from Koenig. According to statements
attributed 20 Roenig ana Metaier. Mottoia
was employed by the former at q day
TO make investigations.
The arrests yesterday and today are
said to be merely the forcrunners OF
numerous other arrests. which viii ex-
tend throughout the country. Secret
service agents assert that Roenig had
twenty-sevon agents In New York city
alone and probably between 800 ana 400
scattered about the country.