Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-18
Embassy Sends Note to State
Department Regarding Case
of William Muller.
VIOLATION OF TREATY
WITH U. S. is ALLEGED
Seattle Representative of Kaiser
Charged With Conspiracy to
Obtain Shipping Secrets.

The German embassy today protested
to the State Department against the
warrant of arrest served on the German
consul, William Muller. and his assist
ant, B. NJ. Schultz. at Seattle. Wash.
The embassy contends that the arrest
is violation of the consular treaty be-
tween Germany and the United States.
The department was asked to investi-
gate the case. and the embassy was
assured that would be done imme-
diately
The charge was made in the en-
bassy's note that the Seattle authori-
ties had exceeded their powers in en-
tering the consulate to make search.
and also IN servng the warrants OF
The consul In his report to the en-
bassy, which was transmitted to the
state Department. did not say that an
actual search Of the consulate had been
made, but declared that officers had
entered in order to make a search"
Conspiracy Is Charge.
The charge on which the consul's ar
rest was based was that Of conspiracy,
in that he had been unlawfully trying
to gain secrets of the Seattle Construc-
ton and Drydock Company. 1t had been
said the company was building sub
marines for Great Britain and sending
them to British Columbia in parts.
The section of the consular treaty
which the embassy contends has been
violated declares that consuls "shal
enjoy In the country of their residence
personal immunity from arrest or i'm
prisonment except in the case OF
declares that ''the consular archives
shall be at all times inviolable, and
under no pretense whatever shall the
local authorities be allowed to examine
or seize the papers forming part OF
them"
The Offices and dwellings of consules
missi who are not citizens of the coun-
try of their residence, shall be at all
times inviolable."
Invasion of Homes Prohibited.
The local authorities" the treaty
continues, shall not, except in tht
case of the pursuit for crimes, unde,
any pretext invade them
Embassy officials expressed their be.
lief in Muller's innocence of any con.
spiracy to obtain secrets to which HI
had no right
Recently the German embassy charged
that submarines were being built in the
United States in sections and shipped
Seattle was named as one of the places
where the submarines were being built
The Department of Justice probably
will make an investigation for the State
Department.
Consul Faces Charge Of Conspiracy.
SEATTLE. March 1S.-Dr. william Null
Ter, imperial German consul at Seattle.
and his secretary, b. NJ. Schultz, have
been served with notice of arrest at the
consulate. They are charged with con-
spiracy in attempting to influence cor
ruptly John Murdoek, an employe of the
Seatue Construction and Drydock Com
pany, by inducing him TO sell business Sc
crets OF his employers.
Consul Muller and his secretary are ac-
cused by the state of Washington OF Of
ferng Muroock a cash consideration to
supply them with informa tion bearing out
AMBASSADOR Bernstorffs charge that the
Seattle corporation was Shipping knock
down submarines to the British govern
ment, via British Columbia.
The information against the German
representatives filed by Alfred H. Lun-
din, county prosecuting attorney. Jointly
charges them and Dan Tarnisasky, a free
lance detective, with conspiracy
Muller Expects Acquittal.
agreement with Murdoch or the de-
tectiye to purchase anything, nor did
he arrange to have them steal papers
from the construction company. He
declared that 1arnisasky approached
him with Il statement that he had in
formation that submarines were being
built mere for the British navy, but
that he had dealt with the detective
only So far as WAS necessary to deter
mine whether there was truth in tine
report. The consul expressed conf
dence in a prompt dismissal OF the
charge against him.
Nine original bills of lading were re-
covered from under the mattress of
Murdock's bed by special agent of
the prosecuting attorneys orf1ce. A
quantity of blank forms of bills of
JadIng also was found there. The
purport of these bills has not been re-
afrair. Whether Murdoch really had
ANYTHING of value to offer to the Ger
man consul is not disclosed by the
papers. President J. V. Paterson Of the
dry dock company says his firm is not
building submarines for the British or
any other government at war.
Treaty With Germany Studied.
IT was asserted at the county prosecu-
TORS ONCE today that before an informa-
tion was filed against the German consul
and the consular secretary the treaty
with Germany. dated 1871, was studied
carefully. According to this treaty con-
suls are immune from arrest except on
criminal charges. The consul and his
secretary have not been personally mo-
Tested. Their counsel was notified of
rhe issuance of the warrant and thanked
the prosecutors office for its courtesy.