The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-05
Bombs Placed on Munition
Ships Responsible for Great
Blow to Russia
RUSSIAN JUNK DEALER
TAKEN I.4TO CUSTODY
1t Is Believed He Is Merely
Pawn for Many Others--May
Have Perpetrated Outrage
to Cover Numerous Thefts

New York. Dec. &-Samuei Cater, a
Russian junk dealer was arrested to-
day. charged with having in his pos
session property stolen from Russian
steamships.
Behind his arrest may lie the solu-
ton Of one of the most remarkable
disasters that has occurred in the
course of the European war Through
II the police confidently hope to lay
their hands upon men suspected OF
placing bombs on allied steamships
which bombs are said to have caused
the disastrous explosion In Archangel.
Russia. about three weeks ago.
Hundreds were killed and wounded
and two steamers were destroyed. ac-
cording to an official Russian report.
The disaster, according to local Rus
sian officials. was directly responsible
for the stoppage Of the great Russian
offensive In Galicia and also prevent
ed Russia from rushing immediate and
effective aid to the more-pressed Ru-
manians. General Shouvaien. the Rus
sian minister of war. was quoted as
declaring the explosion was "one of
Russsa's worst defeats"
Was Done to Cover Thefts.
The arrest of Cater revealed the
fact that C. ]. Medxikhovsky. CONNER
cial attache of the imperial Russian
government. had complained to the
police a few days ago that the ex-
plosion had been caused by bombs
placed on the ship TO cover extensive
thefts. These thefts amount TO up
ward OF hundred thousand dollars.
Under his arraienment before U. &.
Commissioner Richard Cahoon, tn
Brooklyn. It became clear that Cater
is but a pawn In the great fnterna-
tional plot He is specifically charged
with having twenty-seven pairs IL
binoculars in hts possession stolen
from Bush terminal pier
His arrest followed a minor incl
dent that linked up a New York
theater with the great world drama
tn Europe. Shortly after the police
had received the complaint OF the Rus
sian government Police Lieutenant
Busby heard that young woman had
been seen using a pair OF military bin
oculars at a matinee performance in
the Winter Garden. These glasses
were so unusual in a theater that they
caused comment. The woman was a
relative of Cater.
Following the clue Bushy and a
number of detectives from the bomb
squad went over to Brooklyn. There
they quickly located seventeen pairs
Of the missing binoculars. which are
valued Mt 5000 pair. Their inves-
legations pointed to Cater as the man
who had sold them
On his arrest Cater said that he
was born In Russia thirtyfour years
ago. At the time Of the Russo-Jap-
anese war he was impressed in the
army. but subsequently deserted. He
! succeeded In making his way to Aus
trta Hungary, and thence to New
York Beyond this ne absolutely re-
fused to volunteer any further in
formation. He was then turned over
| to the Federal authorities In Brook
lyn.
| Captain Tunney. Of the New York
Police Department, who questioned
| Cater, declared that there was nj
evidence to connect him with the plot
! to blow up the steamers. I'VE ex-
| pect to make a number of arrest.
within a few days" he said. II tn.
complaint Of the Russian government