The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-20
Widespread Plot of Germans
to Blow Up NUM-
tions Plants
HEAD OF THE
SECRET SERVICE
Is Said to Have Been Taken
When Paul Koenig
Was Arrested

New York, Dec. 20.--With the arraign
ment Of Paul koenig,, said to be the heac
OF the German secret service in this conn
try, and Richard Emil Leyendecker, q
New York art goods dealer, on a charge
OF conspiring to blow up the Welland
canal in Canada, federal officials assert.
ed they had in their hands the clews to
countrywide conspiracy to blow up
munitions plants which has already re-
suited in the loss Of many lives and de-
struction of millions OF dollars worth Of
property.
For several years Koenig has been the
head Of the detective force employed at
New York by the Hamburg American
steamship company. The company,
which is subsidized by the German gov
eminent, was quick to come to his aid
and, through local surety concern, sup
piled $4,000 bail for him and $4,000
bail for Leyendecker.
The arrest Of Koenig and Leyendecker
was coincident with the arrest by county
authorities OF Frederick Scheindl, a
clerk in the National City bank OF New
York. Scheindl, detectives claim, con-
fessed that he was employed by koenig
to supply him with information regard
ing the shipment Of munitions to tbs
allies. This information was obtainst:
through kilograms and letters Tecsved
by the National City bank, which has
! had prominent part in the purchasing
Z, in this country Of supplies for the allies.
Scheindl says he received $25 a week
from Koenig, the police added. Scheindi
told the police that he is a German re
servist and that he acted solely from
patriotic motives. Scheindl was ar
raigned before police magistrate on an
affidavit charging him with suspicion in
the larceny of documents and messages
valued at 100000 from the National
City bank He was held in $4,000 bail
for hearing to-day.
Important evidence regarding koenig's
activities is understood to have been OBJ
tanned from Frederick Metzler, who was
arrested in connection with koenig and
Leyendeeker. Metzler was also employed
by the Hamburg American line and acted |
as stenographer to Koenig. He was to
have been arraigned with his chief and |
Leyendecker but at the last moment As !
sistant United States Attorney Wood, |
who is in charge of the case, announced |
that Metzler would not appear, Later
high federal official admitted that |
Metzler had offered to turn states evil
dence and had already supplied the gov
eminent with much valuable informa
ton.
As soon as il was known that Metzlcr
would not be arraigned two attorneys
acting for the Hamburg American line
went to the federal authorities and asked
permission to see him. This request was
The attorneys then offered any
amount of bail to secure Metzler's lib
erty. This offer likewise was refused
who had been examined at pc.
lice headquarters during the night. was
taken away early Saturday and no in.
formation would be vouchsafed as to
where he was being held
Another man held by the federal au-
thorities as a material witness against
koenig was George Fuchs, about whose
identity the utmost secrecy was oh.
served. Fuchs was taken into custody ,
but was not formally arrested and no
charge was made against him. IL was
at the federal building at New
York Saturday that he was in reality /