Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-14
-Four Germans
Are Arrested in
Fire Bomb Plot
Detectives in New York Seek
MAN Higher Upl" Who Is
Said to Have Financed the
Conspiracy

NEW YORK, April I3.-Detectives
who yesterday y arrested four Germans
charged with placing bombs on ships
carrying war munitions to the entente
allies today sought evidence involving
a well known German" who is alleged
TO have supplied a $4,000 fund to
finance the fire bomb conspiracy. They
sought also the arrest of the chemist
who did the chemical work i'm the man
ufacture of the bombs. The name of
neither has been revealed.
Four employees of the Hamburg
American line and North German Lloyd
steamship companies here are under ar
rest charged with attempted arson
either I'm making bombs or taking part
in the conspiracy. They are Ernest
Becker. an electrician of the steamer
Kaiser Friedrich Der Grossei Captain
Charles Won Kleist, superintendent of
the New Jersey Agricultural and
Chemical company. of Goboken. n. ].
Captain Otto Wolpert, superintendent
of the Atlas line piers of the Hamburg
American company. and Captain Emo
Bode. superintendent of the Hamburg
American lines in Hoboken.
Preparations were made to arraign
them I'm a Brooklyn court today to an
swer the specific charge of placing
bombs in sugar bags on board the
steamer Kirk Oswald on May 2, 1915.
The steamer caught fire from bomb ex-
plosions while on ner way to Marseilles.
France UNEMPLOYED bombs were found
in her cargo after her arrival there.
Police Captain Thomas Tunney. who
has charge OF the case, regards the ar
rest OF the four prisoners as the most
important stride yet made In the detec-
ton OF a great conspiracy to destroy
steamships sailing with war munitions.
FIRES COST 100000.
The police believe the men involved
have been responsible for fires on at
least thirty-three steamers that have
caused $4,000 O9 damage. They assert
they have evidence that bombs made in
a Hoboken factory. ostensibly operated
for the manufacture of fertilizer, were
sent 10 all parts OF the country.
Detectives asserted today that one Of
the factory in Hoboken by Captain
Franz Won Papen. The Hoboken fac
tory was a small structure in which a
few men were employed. One Of the
prisoners told the police it was used
ct first to make fertilizer for shipment
to Germany through neutral countries
and that the Germans extracted lubriA
eating oil from the fertilizer.
Both Becker and Won Kleist are said
by the police to have confessed making
the bombs.
The parts played by Captains Wolpert
and BOde have not been told. It is hint
ed that the first clue TO the conspiracy
came to the police as a result of a dis
pute between the men higher up I'm the
conspiracy and the chemist. Many OF
the bombs are said TO have failed to eN-
pIode and consequently the chemist had
difficulty over his payment.
Discovery of the plot was brought
about according TO tine authorities OF
HoboEen. through the discomfort OF a
man who had Quarreled with the leaders
over money payments. The Hoboken au-
thor.ties said this man, whose identity is
withheld. told them that Captain Boy
Ed and Captain Won Papen, before their
departure from the United States had
placed a large sum Of money at the
disposal OF the bomb makers.