Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-15
LETTERS REVEAL A
BOMB CONSPIRACY
Documents Tell of Plot to Blow Up
Munitions Factories in the
Middle West.
THREE ARRAIGNED IN FRISCO


SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, Dec. a.
Plans for the destruction OF muni-
tion plants at Aetna, Ind. and lsh-
peming, Mich, we're revealed today
when there was made public the de-
tails of indictments returned yester-
day against three alleged conspira-
tors In German bomb plots.
Gary. Ind, anu Pin 10, Ca, aieo were
suggested to an alleged agent Of tie coli
splracy us fertile fleli for similar
work. Two fires and explosions occurred
later at Pinolc. at the plant OF the Her
cules powder company. The Letters con-
taining these plans were three, alleged
TO have been written to Louis J. Smith,
witness for the government against
Baron George Wilhelm Won Brncken,
Charles G. Crowley. a detective, employed
by the German consul general. and Miro.
MarEaret Connel Crowlcys crn9loYe.
the three persons indicted.
neletsed ON NAT.
All appeared today for arraiEnment on
the two counts OF ench Indictment and
were released on hail tond OK So % each.
The indictments chsrsed conspi: aey %
interfere with and destroy oomnoroS
18th the allies and use Of the mails 20
insitc arson. murder and assassination.
Specific charges we're MADE that the
three alleged piottsrs oonhpired by send
lEE a iotter from here August TO Louis
J. Smith at the Normaniie hotel. De-
troit. Mich. In an attempt 10 iacite him
to arson, murder ana slSsi-atlon by
burning certain buildings at Aetna, Ind.
owned by the Aetna Chemical company,
and works and build nSs at 1shce.ning.
Mich. owned by the Aetna Explosive
company OF Now York. The indcit-
ments alleged that the letter was Of a
character 90 incito Smith to destroy en-
Origin of PLOT.
The conspiracy was alleged to have had
It's inception here May l. 1915 and nu-
merous dates and incidents and tho con
tents ot letters were set forth.
Smith was alleged to have been en-
ployed By the Defendants at 500 a fnenth
to further the conspiracy on May g. The
following day Crowley was alleged 10
have paid Smith $50 TO 80 20 Tacoma,
Wash, TO obtain information oonoerning
the sailines Of vessels from northern
ports for Yiadivostock. Russia. ana other
ports OF tho allies. The vessels under
scrutiny included the steamers Hazel Dol
lar and Talthybiuh.
Smith was sent two $50 money orders
June while he was at Tacoma, and Au.
gust 4 Won .Brinckcn. at the Palace hote
here. paid Smith aeB, %, according TO tn,
allekAtiona. A -ticket 70 New York wal
-hp,ightafa Tor -hirn. " GspElaF. Jane, 1,-.-,'
\ is2hes ~ the lcfters set out in Yie lndiut
mont and signed "c'' wac dated here Az
gust u, 1875, and contained a clipping tell
ins Of a 20 per cent wage increase 70 EN-
| ployea or the Aetna workg The iettei
was without punctuation, and read
Il. J. g.. Enclosed Alpd clipping thiI
stuff goes TO the - am sure they here
will give five hundred for each and news.
paper clippings and dispatches to show
what do you think Ishpeming and out
side Gary, Indiana let me hear from you
nothing else new"
August u the defendants we're alleged
to have put in the mail letter OF a
nature 70 incite Smith to burn buildings
of the Hercules Powder company at Pl-
mole. Cal.
German Officials Mention.
There were negotiations concerning tho
destruction of the Pinole plant according
to federal officials who said that letters
and kilograms in the possessions OF the
government showed that Smith fixed n
price for the Job" and that the matter
was put up" TO Franz Won Papen, re-
called military attaohe OF the Germany
embassy at Washington.
A letter in which reference was made TO
these negotiations was Included In the
indictment. II was dated August 81, AMI
read:
Dear s.; Your last letter with clipping
to hand today and note what you have
to say have taken II up with them and
b. (Which federal officials said stood
for Franz Bopb. German consul general
here) is awaiting decision Of p. Csald to
stand for Won Papen) In New York so
cannot advice you yet and will do 80 as
SION as l get word from you. You might
size up the situation in the meantime"
The last half OF the letter referred 10
arrangements for aiding Smith in obtain
ing from German authorities In Germany
his fathers military records.
In about all 300 letters and kilograms
passing between the alleged conspirators
are said 70 have been obtained by the
federal officers.
Mrs. Margaret Corneu, indicted yester.
day after she has been kept under bail
bond OF 1900 for a week simply as n
witness, was alleged to nave been the
so-between between Won Brincken and
Crowley.