The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-10-18
PAUL WIERSE CONVICTED
GETS TWO YEARS, ALSO FINE or
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Klattenhon Convicted, Both Tried on
Charge Of Conspiracy to Sink
German Ship Liebenfels


editorial writer on the Charleston
American, was today convicted, in the
United States Court here, of con-
spiracy to sink the German steam
ship Liebenfels in Charleston harbor,
and sentenced to serve two years in
the federal penitentiary at Atlanta
and to pay a fine of 81 1000 and costs.
Johann klattenhOff, was also
found guilty of the same charge and
sentenced to six months in the United
States prison in Atlanta, and to pay
a fine of 500 and costs, klattenhof
sentence is to begin at the expiration,
next June, of the term of one year
he is now serving in Atlanta for
having sunk the Liebenfels in Charles
ton harbor. February | last, to which
charge he pleaded guilty. Wierse
and Klattenhoff was tried together.
A third defendant. William Muller,
former German consul at Atlanta,
was absent and is said to be in
Ecuador.
Verdict Easily Found.
The verdict against Wierse and
Klattenhoff came near the close OF
a brief but interesting, and at times
exciting, session of the court. The
Jury was out fifty minutes, but it is
understood that all of this time was
not consumed in deliberation and
that the jury was practically, if not
wholly, unanimous on the first bal
lot.
About half an hour after the jurors
retired. they filed back into the court
room, the spectators thinking that
they were ready to hand in their
verdict, but such proved not to be
the case when the foreman, John D.
Whisenhunt, one of Orangeburg
county's most substantial citizens,
asked Judge Smith whether or not
a verdict of ''guilty'' or mot guilty
could be returned against all three
defendants. The court stated that
the verdict could refer only to
Wierse and klattenhoff, as Muller
was not on trial. The jury returned
to the room, returning about twenty
minutes later, at 1925, with the
verdict as given above.
So far as could be observed the de-
fendant Wierse was calm and did not
change his expression when the result
was announced by Deputy Clerk OF
Court Murphy. John P. Grace. ESQ.,,
counsel for the defense, appeared
somewhat disappointed and crest
fallen. Capt. klattenhoff maintain
ed the attitude he bore throughout
the trial of absolute Indifference, ap-
parently. although this might have
been attributable to the fact that he
is not familiar with the English
language and probably understood
very little of the proceedings.
Mr.. Grace promptly made motion
for new trial, which was prompt
ly refused by Judge Smith, who or
dered the prisoners brought to the
bar for sentence.
Prisoners Sentenced.
When the court asked what the
government had to say before SEN
tence was pronounced, District At
torney Francis H. Weston called the
judges attention to the fact that
Paul Wierse is an American citizen
(naturalized). Counsel for the de-
fense had nothing to say, whereupon
Judge Smith proceeded to pronounce
sentence, saying that he was not in
clined to be severe on Capt. Klatten-
hoff, whose physical condition had
been declared by Warden Zerbst, OF
the Atlanta federal prison, as still
bad, the former ship master having
been in the hospital ever since he
entered the prison last June.
Notice of appeal was given and
Judge Smith was asked to fix bail for
the defendant. Wierse, who had been,
until his conviction. at liberty under
$4,000 bond. The court stated that
the motion for bail would be heard in
Charleston tomorrow, but that the
amount would be raised to $4,000.
In the custody of Deputy United
States Marshals Lockwood Murphy
and w. Barmore Mays, Wierse was
taken to Charleston tonight and will
be kept under guard until bond is
furnished. klattenhoff was t. ken
back to the prison in Atlanta by
Warden Zerbst and two deputies, who
also took former chief engineer
Jansen and former fourth engineer
Neuse to complete service Of their
sentences Of one year each, having
been convicted at Florence last
March of sinking the Liebcnfels. The
last two named were witnesses for
the government against Wierse and
Klattenhoff, although they stated on
| the stand that they were offered no
| inducement to testify.
When the court convened this
| morning the defense announced that
| it would have one more witness, the
| defendant Wierse having completed
| his testimony yesterday afternoon.
The Last Witness.
Warden Fred G. Zerbst vas put on
| the stand and testified only regard
in Capt. klattenhoff's physical con-
dition since ne had been in the At
| lanta prison. THIS made only tWo
witnesses offered by the defense.
Mr.. Grace again endeavOred to get
! in the record the ownership Of the
Charleston Evening Post, this time
| adding the News and Courier. claim
| ing that such evidence would SHOW
| animus and bias in the prosecution
| of Wierse Judge Smith ruled such
testimony incompetent. counsel for
| the defense asking that exception be