The Sentinel=record., 1915-03-20
GERMAN OFFICIAL ACCUSED
Charge is Made by Attorneys That Money Was Furnished Stegier by Representative of German Govern. ment to Get Fraudulent Passport.

New York, March 19.--A representa-. tive of the German government in this country "who on account of his position is immune from arrest" was described in the federal court here to- day as the "arch-conspirator in the plot to obtain a false American pass port for Richard P Stegler, a German naval reservist.
 The accusation was made by ChaS H. Grffiths, Stegler's counsel, in ask ing a light sentence for his client. after he had pleaded guilty. stegler received sixty days in jail His two fellow conspirators, Richard Madden and Gustaye Cook, who were yester- day convicted by q jury largely on Steger's testimony, were sentenced to ten months each
 MT Griffths told tbe court that great deal more has centered in this trial than the mere welfare of Cook and Madden"
 He referred to attacks upon Steg- ler's character by counsel for the two other defendants and to an alleged effort to compromise Steglers wife by two reporters for German news paper.
 Both Stegler and his wife have been preyed upon and harassed by various people who wanted to dis credit them" said the attorney. This is what Stegler has been sub jected to because he told the truth"
 P against Madden and Cook it had been only necessary for the government to ebgin at the point where Stegier met them, MT Griffiths said the court was therefore not acquainted with the motives that prompted Stegler to ob- tain the passport"
 ''Stegler is not the instigator of this conspiracy" he said "He is not the arcA-cOnspirator Having lest his position in an exporting house, Steg- Ter went to a representative of his government here to see if he could help him out. There plan was sug- gested to him to get a passport and go to England as d spy. Money was given him to get the passport, to- gether with recommendations from firms in the United States to firms in England to carry out the scheme. There was where the money came from-$200 in all--out of which he paid Madden and Cook"
 Stegler. the attorney continued, was ready to go, but wanted written assur- anees that in case he met death in England, his wife would be provided for.
 ''He gave up the plan" MT. Griffiths declared, because he could not get the written assurance. The represen. tative of the German government then offered him work around the harbors and docks. This representative is, on account of his position, immune from arrest. If he were not, 1 could show in this court that Stegler was led on by this person to obtain the passport But Stegler, Cook and Madden are the only ones in this conspiracy that the law can reach"
 Mr Griffiths in his address avoided mention of the name of the repre- sentative of the German government to whom he alluded.
 Judge Cushman, ill sentencing SteE- Ter said he would take into consid. eratlon StegleT's confession, but added
 Since at this time there is large foreign-born population which still ap- parently shows allegiance to'foreign governments, something should be done to discourage acts of this kind. It would not do to send him out from here scot free and let him pose as hero"