The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-09
MAN-O'-WAR TRAP
FOR D. F. MALONE
Just a Plan to Embarrass Col
lectOr and the L. S.. Gus
toms Agents Believe.
BRITAIN NOT TO BLAME

The secret service men who, acting
under the direction OF Collector OF the
Port Dudley Field Malone. are running
down the alleged conspiracy to furnish
supplies TO the British warships on
New York, have covered most or the
ground and are facing only one I'M
portant problem before completing their
investig alton. 1t was said last night
The problem Is the identity OF the
persons behind the alleged conspiracy
and their motives 1t IL the more dit-
ficult Of solution as the inquiry has
failed to develop any evidence that the
British vesse.s received. expected. asked
for or desired any supplies.
The Collec' Nr's men have satisfied
themselves that there was no intention
to make any deliveries to the war;
ships. they are working on the theory
that the so-called conspiracy. with its
headGua rters in the room which Jenny
Lind once occupied IL. the Eastern Hotel
at the Battery. had for its purpose the
obtaining of aiiidavits from tugboat
owners and shippers that they already
had delivered supplies to British ships.
\ clue along this line was forthcom-
ing at the beginning OF the investigation
when the tugboa; men questioned said
that when they applied TO the office In
the Eastern Hotel for Jobs TO supply
British warships they had first to sign
an affidavit that they already had been
, engaged in this traffic A sample OF
these affidavit agreements, all OF which
were similar in composition. follows:
-, being duly sworn, deposes and
says: I am licensed pilot and cap
tain and while on the boat ------ in the
month OF February. 1918. | delivered
supplies to the British cruiser Essex and
a converted merchant ship. carrying
T, guns and i,ying the English flag, several
miles on Sandy Hook. | am willing &c
make similar deliveries for $40 a month
| in advance.
"tsignedl -"
! To the affidavit Is appended a de
! scription OF the sign"r. which in this
| instauc. was rs follows:
Position. pilot and captain Resi-
dence. Red Bank. y. i Age. 80 years
| Height : feet 10 inchcs Weight. 20
pounds Build, stncky. Birthplace, NeN
Jersey Nationality, American Married
! profession. seafariuC man "ormeri!
| employed IN Gloucester Mass, by ----
| Tow Company and ---- Tow Boat Com
pany.
The question arose in the minds o
tho Investigators Why II persons inter
estcd IN tho supplying OF British vessel
pl war N'IS ~ EtlllGlHE a N'lubi llstNi'
for his purpose they should want af'i
darlis ~ earlier deliveries 90 such Dsr
/ shps TIE score. service men fouu'
also that operatives Of 4 private Dc
tectiVe agency were working on tho case
hut not ~ cmploN COS 81 the Unite
| state Government.
The situation finally presented iisel
10 the Government detectives in abou
this light: That an elaborate aud no
too secret arrangement ostsusibly 70
supplying British men-of-war was afoot
that there was no Intention actually ~
delivering such supplies, but only of OF
tainins tho af'idavits Of tugho,t men q
ca ritter op. r.tiors. that when a sum
cien' number NJ these affids,''s hd
! been Obtained tho objective agency en-
poN 81 would mako public 'l' "viderr
onta ned - proof that the United state
80, crnmert was NOT exercising prope
Vigilance in maintaining neutrality =
this port.
~ one of the Government men sal
YESTERDAY When Collector Malone dc
c'ded th,a WAS the case hs beat tho pr
Sa,o detectives 10 II and announced Nh
cNlsieu.c Of tho conspiracy himself
l,ror's 10 run down ~" shipments r
. surplier, detailed IN tho -trdsvi's SO N
have failed ~ develop ANYTHING heyon
rafting ,~orsignments ~ vegetables.
Andrew J Peters, Assistant Secr'
tary - Tho Treasury. cam" 10 ""
Vo-h from Washington YESTERDAY ~
went ~ collector Nal"nes office In -
: custom Mouse Roth Mr Peters AZ
Nj Malone said that the visit was
connection with another matter. =
though incidentally they had d'scuss'
the uot'r. lity situation.