The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-31
Declares German Govt Sent
Him to Blow Up Vessel.
Expected Reward of 1000
Pounds in Ships Strongbox.
SAFE HELD BUT TEN POUNDS
Crew of 56 Obeyed Under
Threat to Touch OF Bombs.
Captain and Culprit Give Ver-
sions of Pirate Stunt.

Iewes Del, March 31.-Ernst
Schiller, the young German who cap~
tured the British steamer Matoppo
and terrorized her crew of So men on
Wednesday night shortly after the
ship had sailed out of New York har-
Dor for Vladivostok with railroad
supplies for Russia declared today
that he was a spy for the German
government Weary from the excit@-
ment he had undergone he threw him
self upon a cot in the Lewes Jail early
today and sought sleep. Previously
he had emphatically denied that he
was a German spy, declaring his OBJ
ject was to seize the ships treasure
Yes, am a spy for the German
government" he said. You can be-
lieve it or MOTT makes no differences
to me. l got my instructions from the
German government to go aboard the
ship and blow her up and to prevent
her cargo from reaching Russia.
Il could have blown her up but
the captains plea for his wife and
daughter was too much for me and
had not the heart to do it. am ready
to take the consequences, but I ask
that they keep me ashore instead of
sending me back to the ship for the
captain to take me in charge"
Who Has Jurisdiction.
Schiller had been told that as his
daring exploit occurred outside the
three-mile limit he would in all likeli-
hood be taken to British possessions in
the West Indies for trial for piracy.
Federal authorities and representa-
tives from the British government
came today to examine Schiller and
decide what to do with him. If the
United States finds it has no juris-
diction under international maritime
- H.
representatives of Great Britain. An
examination into Schilfers mentaf
condition will be made. Those who
have talked with him believe he is
irresponsible and that his story of his
career is not true.
Schiller was reluctant to tell his his
tory.
81 was born in Germany" he said.
Never mind the town of my parents
name. 1 have been in this country
one year; in New York three weeks.
l was sent by the German government
to England soon after the war started
and at Germany's request, i enlisted
in the British navy and was assigned
to the training ship Conway at Liver
pool.
Many Spies i'm British Navy.
Il want to say right now that there
are several thousand Germans in the
British navy, l know what this means
to me. It's the Tower of London If
they get me back to the Matoppo But
L won't go, just bear that in mind T"
Captain Richard Bergner of the
Matoppo said he is convinced thatk
Schiller is former naval officer.
Talking of his experiences he said:
Il spent three weeks in Hoboken
preparing for this. I went along the
docks buying drinks for sailors and
learning from them what ships were
sailing with contraband
Il lay in the 1ifeboat on upper deck.
waiting for the ship to sail, from
Thursday until the following Wednes-
day night. For two days / did not eat
had only brought some sandwiches
with me but l stuck it out
Acts Fool Now, But
Although DIR. W. r. Messick who
examined the prisoner after he had
been captured by the crew of the fed
ing conveyed ashore from the
is mentally irresponsible. Captain
Bergner says he is far from being
simple minded
This fellow may act the fool now."
Bergner said, but he is far from be-
ing simple minded. as you will see by
what happened We left New York
Wednesday evening znd had passed
the Sandy Hook at 8 o'clock when I
was in my cabin We were bound for
Vladivostok with railroad material for
the Russian government and had 4
crew of Sc men, of which only a were
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