Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-19
india PLOT CASE
TRACED DIRECT
TOHUNCAPITAL
Germany Unmasked By Testi-
mony Given During Trial
Held in Chicago

CHICAGO, Ill-As the India plot
case, which was heard before United
States District Judge Lands. progress
ed, it became evident, according to the
testimony given, that the German
government, no SOONER than the war
had begun, undertook, through its
diplomatic agents and spies through
out the world, to create trouble in
countries, either belligerent or neu-
trail, with the idea that thereby the
Allies chances for victory would be
lessened. -.
Witnesses made some astounding
revelations. Sukumar Chatterji, Hin
du, testified that 1t was the purpose OF
the Gadar movement in the United
States to liberate India. For the
movement to succeed, he said, it was
necessary to be rid of British investl-
gators and spies. Witness said he was
told by Hindus engaged in the move
ment in the United States that it
would not stop at kidnapping, or even
the wholesale murder of British Off
Gals" who stood in opposition. These
Hindus also told him, witness deelar'
ed, that Germany was behind the plot.
Sukumar Chatterji's testimony con-
nected one of the defendants, George
Paul Boehm, more closely with the
India plot Witness said Gustav H.
Jacobsen of Chicago, defendant, gave
Boehm $500 for his trip to Manila, en-
route to India, Jacobsen, witness said
was in cable communication with
Boehm. the German Consular Office at
rout to India. Jacobsen, witness said
| in Manila, witness said, that Boehm
proposed to him what appears to
have been the most amazing feature
of the whole enterprise. According to
Chatterji, Boehm planned to intercept
an exploring party headed by DR..
Frederick Cook, believed then t19l5)
to be in the Himalayas, put the eX-
plorer and his party out of the way,
and enter India under Cooks pass
ports. Chatterji said he protested and
the scheme was abandoned. ...,
Hermanda Lai .Gupta, one of the
defendants, was hailed as the financial
emissary between the Imperial Ger
man Embassy in washington and the
Hindu revolutionaries and their al
legged Chicago co-conspirators. Gupta
was a student at Columbia University
when he was indicted. Thomas n.
Tunney, Captain of detectives in New
York city, and a detective sergeant
| from the same place, testified for the
government. On March 10, 1917, and
afterward, the New York police saw a
good deal of Gupta and learned some
thing from him, they said, which
throws light on the activities OF Cap
tain Won Papen, Ambassador Bern.
storff's military aide. H..
Gupta told him, Captain Tunney
said, he first met Won Papen in 1915.
Gupta soon became one of the leaders
in the conspiracy, it is charged, and
the New York police assert Gupta
send them to Siam. Won Papen, IN
him between $4,000 and $21, 900 for
the promotion of the India plot.
That Gupta had finger on the
German purse strings was also as
serted by Chicago witness, who was
engaged, according to testimony, to
Join in a New Orleans enterprise in
which Jacobsen was interested.
Gupta, like other of the defendants,
+ crossed the American continent and
sailed from San Francisco. Their ulti-
mate destination was India, but they
took different routes. The New York
detective sergeant testified Gupta ad.
mitted that Won Papen Instructed him
to take the money given him and go TO
Japan and China and buy arms, and
send them to Siam. Won Papen, i'll
the meantime, was to get arms into
India via the South Seas. This was
in 1915.
Gupta reached Japan and got into
Communication with AGENTS of the