Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-12

was to meet him the next night with
the money. i. II 49,. ~
Schirmann's first question when
they met was whether he had sent
the letters, as promised. - =. r
The officer lied and said that he
had done so. The German stated
that he could not make the payment
that night, but that he would pay him
the following evening. Schirmann
never showed up, however The Of
ficer accordingly kept the letters.
One of the two missives-both we're
turned over to the local department
contained a letter TO Schirmann's
parents and had no significance in
the, plot. Ill., ..a.
; The7other, however, were addressed
to amy German consulate in Hol.
land" and In substance was rs fol.
lows: ...=~-.. ,:
Schirmann stated that he was send.
ing the communication by what he
considered safe way. He said II
was reported that the draft bill had
provoked a bloody conflict in Okla
homa and that most of the people IN
America were against the war.
Then Sehirmann added that If com.
munication between Honolulu and
San Francisco could be broken the
result would have great effect detrf-
mental to commerce in America and
elsewhere. Many steamers, incluGI
ing the Matson Navigation company
hoofcA opd Tanonaoo fropsnoo;fjo J;y,
ers were in the service, he said. The
German suggested he could do a great
deal toward breaking up the communi-
cation if he had more money. 6:
Il burn with the desire of render
ing service to my Fatherland," he
concluded, "but caution is ordered
Local officials cabled their informa-
ton as gained from the Dutch Of
ficer and the letters he carried, to
District Attorney John w. Preston
at San Francisco, Schirmann being
nabbed by officers on the strength OF
it. 49,: .--.>@
The feeling was expressed today
that San Francisco may have over.
rated the power of Schirmann. He
could not have been a master spy"
as stated for he never had opportu.
nifty to put his plans into effect.
Rather he Is regarded as a radical
more than a keen and systematic
plotter. ~
Talked While Drunk
A tip was given to a federal agent
while the Zealand was in Honolulu
that this particular Dutch petty Of
ficer had made some startling state
ments one night while intoxicated.
The remarks of the. drunken officer
were overheard by one who under.
stood the Holland language, and it
was he who informed federal agent.
International courtesy made it Inn
possible to take the officer from a
neutral man OF warsman for investi-
CATION, and, in fact, any move with the
color of arrest OF the foreign sailor
was hazardous for fear of causing
dispute between the Dutch and Amer.
lean governments.
Then a cunning subterfuge was
evolved Under the pretext that the
petty officer had package addressed
to him at the postoffice which might
contain dutiable goods, he was in
duced to accompany a federal agent
to the postoffice. Before leaving the
Zealand superior officers of the man
insisted that he be accompanied by
one of their own interpreters. ThiJ
caused more complications, as the in
terpreter was a Dutch commissioned
officer, whom, necessity demanded,
should not learn OF the federal
agents intention to question the sail
Or about his remarks.
- A happy medium was stumbled
upon to distract the commissioned of
ficer's attentioI-the proffer of a
drink by an American informed of
what was in trend. With the com
missioned officer disposed of. for this
time being, the sailor was taken to
an office of the federal inspectors
where with some cunning questioning
and assurance that he would not be
detained if a ful confession of Schir-
mans plotting was diyulged. A