The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-12-07
GUILTY. is PLEA.
OF CEORG RODIEKl
ANDH.A.SCHROEDER'
Admit Completely In Conspiracy To Foment
Rebellion In India Against
British Government a
ACTION IS A SURPRISE

After offering written statements
yesterday morning in which they cate.
gorically denied implication in any con.
spiracy to fomeRt a rebellion in India,
Georg Rodick, former German consul
at Honolulu, and H. Augustus Schroe-
der, m employee of H. Hackfeld & Co,
changed their minds in the federal dis
trict court of San Francisco yesterday
afternoon, and entered pleas Of guilty,
according to Associated Press reports
received here. u. w.
Captain Wilhelm Won Brinckmah,
former military ats he to the German
consulate at San Francisco, also entered
a plea of guilty to the indictment. He.
will be sentenced on Monday, while
Rodiek and Schroeder have had their
sentence deferred until December 10.
According to statement made by
United States District Attorney Pres
ton, the two Honolulu men will prob
ably turn dates evidence against the
other defendants when the trial is re.
sumed Because of this, Preston init
nAated that he would ask consideration
for Rodiek and Schroeder
Make Statements
In Offering the written statements in
the San Francisco federal district court
yesterday morning, Rodiek and Schros.
der urged their acceptance in spirit
Of fairness to themselves and their
American associates in Hawaii. The
statements, they said, gave the eircum
stances on which the charges against
them were based. &f @tsfBys #'rS
Rodiek and Schroeder maintained
that as far as the Maverick was con-
cerned the transactions in which they
were involved consisted merely of fun
Rishing supplies 10 the vessel, while
she lay in Hilo, on the, basis of an ordi.
nary commercial transaction.
Nphe transmission of orders to the
master of the Maverick, Rodiek stated,
occurred in April and May of 1915,
and were Of purely commercial ma
ture. At no time was there any desire
for secrecy, he claimed. Both Homo
lulu men said that neither was cogni-
zant Of any law violations involved.
A brief review of his residence in
Honolulu was made by Rodiek in his
statement TO the court. He said he
came TO the Islands twenty5seven years
ago and married an American woman.
He became a naturalized citizen and,
according to the custom of Germany in
selecting expatriates, he was appointed
German consul here. -.
After war broke out in 1914 he was
advised by counsel that it was not in
consistent to act as the representative
Of Germany. Whatever work he did
was purely commercial, and he spoke
for Schroeder in this connection also.
Says He Is Loyal
The former president Of the Sugar
Planters Association refused to con
cede that he is disloyal to America or
that he lacked devotion to the cause for
which America was fighting. He spoke
Of large subscriptions made by him per-
sCnally and by the firm he represented
TO the Liberty Loan and Red Cross
funds.
When the court convened yesterday
afternoon, Rodiek and Schroeder en-
tered pleas of guilty.
With the two Honolulu men and Won
Brincken out of the way, there still re-
main thirty.four defendants, all of
whom are charged on similar indict-
ments TO that under which these three
men have pleaded guilty. .t#
The ramifications of the case extend
back 10 period months before the
United States had severed diplomatic
relations with Germany. They are said
to have started through the machina-
tions of Agroup of the "babu class, -
and, TO have extended from San Fran
fINii ttiropgh tho Nslass rooms of two
Heat universities OF the State of Cali
forIiia to India; to have involved Ger
man ofieialdom, extended over to BeT-
lin and brought into its ranks Sim
Feiners IL came TO nothing, however,
70 far as direct results we're concerned.
There was mild sensation in local
husiuess circles yesterday afternoon
when the despatch came through that
the two employees of Hackfeld 4 Co.
had pleaded guilty to the charge of aid
ing In the fomenting Of revolution in,
India. ~,
Hagtns Is Grieyed T..
Seen Just Prfor TO leaving his office,
J, ~ @. Hagens, president of II. Hack.
field 4 Co., expressed sincere regret at
the turn of events. "ROdiek and
Schroeder have been good friends Of
MINIS Tor years, he said, "and ! am
gfieved to learn of their misfortune.
10 my knowledge neither of them have
ever acted IL q dishonorable manner,
and because Of this they have had my
respect. s,..'
~ have never been connected with
the German consular Notice here,''
sdded Mr.. Hagens, "snd am not ac-
quaintod with any business transacted
through that channel. My confidence
in Mr.. Rediek. however, always left the
impression that II was legitimate
"Of the ease in question know
notl1ng beyond what have read in
The newspapers from time to time, and