Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-10
ALSO TURKISH CONSUL Gen.
Cases Involve the Alleged At
tempt to Cripple the Ameri-
can Output of Munitions of
War and Other Acts to Help
TeutOnic Allies.

W 5Shl0Cton, rep. S.-NCckS OIL IN
vestigation by agents Of the depart
ment of justice resulted to-day in the
voting Of indictments by a federal
grand jury in San Francisco against
prominent figures in what are regarded
here two Of the boldest plots in
volvinE questions of American neutral
ity that have been uncovered since the
European war began.
Among those against whom indict-
mcnts were voted. according to a mos
sage received here are Franz Eopp.
German consul general, Baron f. II.
Won Setback, vice consul of Germany
and Maurice Hall, the Turkish consul
general, all at San Francisco.
Consular officers do not enjoy the
diplomatic iminunitics which ambassa-
doris. ministers and attaches have un-
der international law. but arc subject
to the jurisdiction of the country in
| which they are resident and may he
| treated by the law any other
persons Tho indictments voted to-day.
however, are the first which the fed
eral government has attempted to OBJ
| tain against any foreign representa-
| tives This fact was taken to mean
that hereafter the administration in
tends to prosecute wherever prosecu-
ton will lie, an offender against Amer
lean neutrality.
| Bopp and Won Setback are charged with
| completely in the plot which was first UNI
covered several weeks ago with the arrest
of G. c. Crowley. alleged to be a pro-
German agent. who had undertaken to
cripple he American output of munitions
of war and in other ways to help the cause
of the TeutoniC allies. Bopp is accused OF
being the head of a conspiracy which
hoped to accomplish this end by intcrfer-
ing with trade in munitions and prevent
ing railway shipments by blowing up two
tunnels on Canadian roads
| The German officials are being proceeded
agans under the Sherman anti-trus, act
in connection with their alleged activities
against American plants and under a
section Of the penal code aimed at the
setting on foot of military expeditions
against a friendly nation in connection
with plans to blow up Canadian railway
tunnels.
The indictment OF the Turkish consul
general was voted in connection with
the use OF the steamer Sacramento to
supply German ships of war in the
South Pacific which ended in the intern
|
eminent many months ago According
to officials here the Sacramento case is
one of the clearest that has come to
their notice of the use Of an American
port as base of supplies for bclligerent
warshps and Of false clearance papers
to get the supply ship past the customs
authorities.
Washington OF the voted indictments
of consular officials here OF the German
government anticipated by at least two
days the prospect of a report from the
federal grand jury. Officials admitted
that among those against whom indct
ments have been voted are included the
following: Franz Bopp. consu-g general
for Germany; Earon +. H. Won Setback,
vice-consul general for Germany: Henry
W. F.. Kauffmann. chancellor of the
German consulate; Maurice f.. Hall, con-
sul-general for Turkey; Fred Jebsen
former owner of the steamer Mazatlan;
Johannes II. Won Koolbergen alleged
agent of the German consulate: DR.
Simon Reimer, said to be German
navy officer. and 'Frederick Williams, -
thought to be a fictitious name
Three of the bomb plot indictments
are new charges against Baron George
Wilhelm Won Brincken, an attache OF
the German consulate: G. c. Crowley
"A detective. and Mrs. Margaret cornell
an investigator. who with Crowley was
employed by Bopp, according to the
charges.
| DR.. Reimer's whcrea bouts are unknown
Won Koolbergen is now in Canada.
Reports have reached here that job
sen made his way to Europe and met
his death in action on board German
subma rine.