The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-12-05
EARL BnENz AND
OTHERS MUST GO
To JAIL FOR YEAR
Bail for Each of the Hamburg
American Officials Fixed at
Ten Thousand.
COMPANY FINED ONE DOLLAR
All of the Officials Are Sen
fenced to Serve Sentence in
Atlanta Federal Prison--Their
Cases Will Be Appealed.
COMPANY FINED ONE DOLLAR

NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-Dr. Karl
Buenz, George Kottnr and Adolph
Hachmeister of the Hamburg Amer
lean line recently convicted of con-
spiracy to defraud the United States
government, were sente ICED today to
serve one and half ~ears in the
federal penitentiary at E lanta. JOS
eph Poppinhaus was sentenced to
one year. The Hambu g-American
line was fined one dollar.
All the defendants were admitted
to bail pending the suing out of
writ of error in their behalf.
Bail was fixed at $4,000 in each
case and was accepted from L surety
company.
Sentence was pronounced after
Judge Howe had overruled motions
by William Rand, Jr., chief junsel
for the defense, for dismissal the
verdict on the ground that l., was
contrary to the evidence and law in
the case.
United States District Attorney H.
Snewden Marshall, in moving for
sentense said sit was his painful
duty to ask for substantial punish
ment, not so much for its effect on
the defendants, but to serve as
warning tho Others"
None of the defendants showed
any emotion when sentence was pro-
nounced. Prior to the opening of
court they were surrounded by
number of sympathizers with whom
they chatted freely. DR.. Buenz told
his listeners that his only regret was
lieve the American people should be-
leye he had done anything to injure
them or had ever had anything but
the kindest feelings towards his
country
Through Mr.. Rand, the aged di-
rector of the Hamburg american
line, asked Judge Howe to take into
consideration that his three code
defendants were his subordinates and
If any offense was committed they
+ were merely acting under his orders.
The nominal fine placed upon the
Hamburg American company was
explained by Judge Howe as due to
his wish to free the case, as far as
possible, from the "order of money.
He said that there was no evidence
to show that the company, as such,
had entered into any conspiracy and
that it was probable that DR.. Buenz
alone had any power to bind it in any
of the proceedings complained of.
The lighter sentence imposed on
Poppinghaus was in recognition OF
the fact that he occupied a subordi-
nate position and had merely carried
out the orders of his superiors with
out having an active part in the plan
ming of the conspiracy for which
they were convicted.
In sentencing Dr. Buenz, Judge
Howe announced that if the sen
tence was confirmed in the higher
courts he would be willing to sup
port any move to obtain clemency
because of the advanced age of the
prisoner.
"This case" said Judge Howe,
will undoubtedly be taken to the
court of appeals and to the United
States supreme court. If sentence is
affirmed and it is claimed that i'm
prisonment would be peril to DR.
Buenz, on account of his advanced
age, the case will be referred to the
executive department of the govern
ment. This court will be willing tc
tain any action that may be de
siKBle in support of such a move"
The maximum penalty which coult
have been imposed on the prisoner!
under each indictment was two years
Imprisonment and a fine of $4,000
Each was indicted on two counts, bu
Judge Howe declared that he consid
cred both indictments to cover on
offense.
The trial was the elimination o
an investigation begun last winte
into the chartering and sailing OF
certain vessels from American ports
in August, September and December
1914.
1t was charged that these vessels
concealing their purpose by false