The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-05
Arrest of Junk Dealer May Dis
close Big Scheme.
Blew Up Ship to Hide Theft of
Equipment.
CHARGES BROUGHT BY RUSSIA
Monster Plot Responsible for
Explosion in Arehangel.
Traced Thru Lady With Queer
BinOcular Set.

New York, Dec. Samuel Cater,
a Russian junk dealer. is under arrest
charged with having in his possession
property stolen from Russian steam
ships.
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 Thru
it 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. Hun
dreds were killed and wounded and
two steamers were destroyed. accord
ing to an official Russian report.
The disaster according to local Rus
sian officials was directly RESPONSE
bic for the stoppage of the great Rus
sian offensive in Galicia and also pre-
vented Russia from rushing imme-
date and effective aid to the sore
pressed Rumanians- General Shou-
vaieff. the Russian minister of war.
was quoted as declaring the explosion
was lone of Russia's worst defeats
The arrest of Cater revealed the
fact that c. ]. Medzikhovsky, COM
mercial attache of the imperial Rus
sian government, had complained to
the police a few days ago that the
explosion had been caused by bombs
placed on the ships to cover extensive
thefts. These thefts amount to up
wards of 100000.
Part of Big Machine.
Upon his arraignment before United
States Commissioner Calhoon in
Brooklyn it became clear that Cater
is but pawn in a great international
plot. He is specifically charged with
having 81 pairs of binoculars in. his
possession stolen from a Bush Termi-
nal pier
His arrest followed a minor incident
that linked up New York theater
with the great world drama in Europe.
Shortly after the police had received
the complaint of the Russian govern
ment, Police Lieutenant Busby heard
that a young woman had been seen
using a pair of military binoculars at
a matinee performance in the winter
garden. These glasses were so I'M
usual in a theater that they caused
comment The woman was a relative
of Cater.
On his arrest Cater said that he
was born in Russia "a years ago. Al
the time of the Russo-Japanese wal
he was impressed In the army but
in making his way to Australia
gary and thence to New York. Be-
yond this he absolutely refused to
volunteer any further information.
Captain Tunney of the New York
police department, who questioned
Cater, declared that there was nc
evidence to connect him with the plot
to blow up the steamers.
Expect More Arrests Soon.
I'VE expect to make a number OF
arrests within a few days" he said
IF the complaint of the Russian gov
eminent is correct it ould seem that
the conspirators used the same meth
DDS as in the case of the British
steamer Minnehaha, on which an ex-
pIosion occurred on the high seas
June Is, 1915.
Then the plotters took some valu-
able magnetos from a case and sub
stituted a bomb which exploded at
! sea-
The clue between the missing binoc-
ulars and the explosion at Archangel
was discovered by the Russian secret
service agents.
According to reports sent out from
Berlin 5000 persons were killed in the
Archangel explosion and twenty
steamers caught fire, many of them
being destroyed. 1t was asserted that
$40. 100000 worth ammunition had
been DESTROYED.