Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-13
Detectives Search for ''Well
Known German" in AL
legged Bomb Plot.
FOUR ARRESTED ON
r 4. CHARGE OF ARSON
Employees of Hamburg American and
North German Lloyd Steamship
Lines Held For Alleged Conspiracy
Two Said to Have Confessed Partioi-
patton in Conspiracy to Destroy
Vessels Carrying Ammunition.

New York, April 13.-Dfectives who
yesterday : arrested four Germans
charged with placing bombs on ships
carrying munitions of war, today
sought evidence involving well
known German" who Is alleged to have
supplied a $4,000 fund to finance the
fire bomb conspiracy.
They also sought the chemist VINO
manufactured the bombs.
-Four employees Of the Hamburg
American line and North German
Lloyd steamship companies here are
under arrest charged with attempted
arson either in making bombs or TAX
ing part In the conspiracy. They are
Ernest Becker, Captain Won Kleist,
Capt. Otto Wolpert and Capt Emo
Bode, superintendent Of the Hamburg :
American line piers in Hoboken
Preparations were made to arraign
them in a Brooklyn court today to
answer 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
explosions while on her way to Mar
L
were found in her cargo after her ar
rival there. l'.
" May Expose Great Conspiracy.
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 de-
lection of a great conspiracy to de-
|stroy steamships sailing with war mu-
,~sk; Dt,t1
delphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
= The police believe the men involved
have been responsible for fires on at
caused $4,000, 600 damage.
They assert they have evidence that
bombs made ina Hoboken factory were
sent to all parts Of the country. The
use to which they were put, other than
the destruction of steamers, has not
been disclosed.
Detectives asserted today that one
of the prisoners said he had been sent
to the factory in Hoboken by Captain
Franz yon Papen, former military at
tache of the German embassy at Wash
ington, who was recalled at the re-
quest of the United States.
Bombs Made in Fertilizer Factory.
The Hoboken factory was small
structure in which a few men were en-
ployed. One Of the prisoners said 1t
was at first used to make fertilizer for
tho German government. and that the
Germans extracted lubrlcating oil from
the fertilizer after it's arrival in Ger
many
Both Won Kliest and Becker are said
to have confessed making bombs. The
parts played by the other two men
have not been told. 1t Is hinted that
the first clue to the conspiracy came to
the police as the result Of dispute be-
tween the men higher up In the con-
spiracy and the chemist who supplied
the explosives. Many of the bombs are
said to have failed to explode and con
Isequently the chemist was chided and
had difficulty over his payment.
| ~ Quarrel Leads to Disclosure.
| Discovery Of the plot was brought
about, according to the authorities al
Hohoken, thru the discomfort of a man
who had quarreled with the leaders
over money payments. The Hoboker
authorities said that this man, whose
identity Is withheld. told them thai
Captain Boy Ed. the German naval at.
tache In Washington, and Captain vor
Papen. the military attache, had, be.
fore their departure from the United
States, placed a large sum Of money al
the disposal Of the bomb makers.
| The four prisoners were taken from
police headquarters to the office of Dis.
trict Attorney Cropsey. Of Brooklyn
for prosecution in that district, but af-
ter n consultation between the detec
| tives In charge and the attorney, II was
decided to turn them over to the de.
partment Of justice. &.s
Accordingly they were taken to The
departments office after which a con-
sultation was held with Attorney Mar.
shall as to what disposition should be
made with them.
Detective Henry Bardh Is credited
with unearthing the plot Bardh was
assigned to the task of finding oui
whether there was German con.
Ispiracy to blow UP ships. shortly afte,
Frank Holt, the man who shot ]. p
Morgan last July, had confessed he ha6
Iplaced bombs In the steamer Mime.
haha and in the capitol at Washing
ton.
| Bopp and Companions Arraianed. q
| San Francisco. Cal, April 13.--Frans
Bopp, consul general or Germany here
land four others. pleaded not guilty to-
day in the United States district cour
Ito indictments Involving violation q
neutrality. &.
/ The others were e. III. Won Schack
yinn consul aanaral OF Germany here
lBaron Gearge Wilhelm Won Brincken
j