New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-19
STAHL INDICTED
AS LUSITANIA
GUN PERJURER
Federal Agents Now Seek
His Financial Backers and
Instigators of Affidavit.
CASH IN PLENTY HE
LIVES WELL IN TOMBS
Clews Being Followed by Secret
Service Men Likely to Result
in Many More Indictments.

As a result of the Federal investiga-
tion into the Lusitania affidavit scandal
Gustav Stahl, German reservlst ana
affidavit maker, was indicted for per-
jury yesterday by a Federal grand jury
before Judge Russell in the Criminal
Branch Of the United States District
Court. The maximum penalty for per-
jury Is ten years.
Assistant United States Attorney
Roger B. Wood, who is in charge OF
the case, expressed himself as well
pleased with the indictment. He said
the Federal grand jury would continue
its investigation into the affidavit scan
Gal with a view Of ascertaining the
SCOPE Of the conspiracy Of German
agents which Federal detectives say
they have discovered.
Joseph A. Baker, assistant superin-
teLdent Of the investigation bureau OF
the Department of Justice, said yes
terday that operatives in his charge
are running down important clews,
which may lead to further indictments
"StahPs indictment was a foregone
conclusion" Mr.. Baker, who gathered
the evidence against the defendant,
said. Owe have reason 10 believe that
there exists a conspiracy. We are now
irving to find out who is financing 1t.
We know positively that Stahl before
he made the affidavit was homeless,
| friendless and out of work. Had 1t
not been for his friend Otto Schubert,
or Mittelach, he would have been
! forced to sleep in the street. AS 1t
was, he slept on the floor OF Mite
lach's room, at 20 Leroy Street, for at
least two weeks previous to the tling
of his affidavit.
"Then he became suddenly prosper
Gus. He had money, bought new
clothes and lived we'll. Even now he
is being well cared for. His attorney,
I Harold Deming, a former Assistant
! United States Attorney, has been en-
gagged to defend the penniless Stahl.
/ Some mysterious friend is evidently
| looking out for his welfare"
: At tho Tombs it was learned that
Stahl buys his own meals and seems
I to be supplied with ample funds. Since
| his Incarceration in default of $4,000
I bail nobody but his lawyer has visited
| him. Federal agents, il is understood,
have carefully watched his mail with
n view of getting clews which might
! lead to the financial hackers and pos
sible instigators Of the Lusltanla attl-
/ davits.
The indictment against Stahl fol-
/ lowed the examination before the grand
/ iury of an official of the United States
/ Bureau of Navigation, q machinist and
an engineer of the Cunard Steamship
/ Company. The indictment explains
| that June 10, 1915, a proceeding was
pending before the grand jury against
/ Paul Koenig, alias Stemler, and others
or a charge of having conspired to de-
| fraud the United States in violation
/ Of Section 81 of the United States
| Criminal Code. During these proceed
| ings Gustav Stahl was called as wit
ness.
In substance the indictment charges
| that Stahl testified that on April 80,
/ 1915, he had gone aboard the Lusltanla
with one Leach, a steward, and that
while on the ship he had seen four
gums on one of the decks of the liner,
/ two forward and two aft. All, he said,
were mounted on wooden blocks and
covered with leather.
In closing the indictment states that
| the guns were not on the ship and
| that Stahl therefore committed perjury.
1t was definitely stated yesterday
/ that Paul Koenig, head of the secret
service Of the Hamburg-American Line
| in this city, would not be called before
/ the grand Jury. II was strongly init
mated. however, that legal action might
bee taken against him and others in
/ connection with the inquiry which Fed
eral agents are making into the actiyl-
/ ties of German secret agents, of which
/ Kcenig is believed to be the head.
Neither Koenig nor his attorney
John B. Stanchfeld, would make any
statement yesterday relative to the
Stahl indictment and the government
/ investigation. Koenig, it was learned,
/ is still employed by the Hamburg
American Line at IS Broadway, although
most of the other employees have been
/ discharged, and there is little secret
service" work to be done, as the big
/ German steamship company's extensive
| business has been suspended since the
/ beginning of the war.