The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-09
ssl. SUMTER, 9. q. SATURDAY JUNE 1a77
coMsPIAlToRS SMOKED OUT.
CONFESSION OF LIEBENSFELis
CAPTAIN LEADS TO IN.
DICTMENTS.
Paul Wicrse, Editorial Writer for
Charleston American Arrested ON
Charge OF Pro-German Conspiracy
DIR. Mueller Also Indicted.

Charge OF Pro-German Conspiracy
DIR. Mueller Also Indicted.
Charleston. June 6.-Following the
sentencing Of Capt. ]. r. Klattenhoff,
in the United States district court this
morning. by Judge III. A. M. Smith,
to ono year in the penitehtiary and a
fine Of $500. reduced from $500 In
consideration Of the defendants plea
of guilt yesterday to the charge Of
sinking the Liebenfels. surprise was
sprung when the grand jury presented
and later returned indictments against
klattenhoff. Paul vvierse. editorial
writer for the Charleston American.
and w. Mueller. charging them will
conspiracy TO sink the Liebenfels, and
against wierse. charging him with
aiding and procuring the sinking OF
the Lebenfels and permitting her to
sink. cA
These indictments grow out of the
staternen. or Capt. Klattenhoff yester-
day. In his pela of guilty. that he
received an order by letter from DR..
Mueller. then German consul at At
lanta, to sink the Liebenfels. this LETT
ter being mailed to q third person.
who turned It over to him. DR.. Muel-
Ter is now believed to be in South
America.
Tho grand jury this morning
brought In these presentments. and
were promptly handed indictments to
act on. and they soon returned with
true bills against the defendants.
The indictments represent that
wierse. Klattenhoff and Mueller "did
conspire wilfully. voluntarily and care
iessly to sink and cause to be sunk"
the IAebenfels. and in pursuance Of
their conspiracy did then 90 sink her
and cause her to be sunk. As il GUS
tomaiy. they are also indicted on q
second passive charge of GLOWING the
vessel to be sunk. 1900 +
wierse 10 indicted separately on the
charge that he did wilfnlly. unlaw-
fully and knowinsiy--aid. abst. coun-
sci. induce and procure the said
Johann Klattenhon' to sink his ves-
sci. and on q second count that he
did wiifully. unlawfully and know
ingly aid. abet. counsel. induce and
procure the said Johann Klattenhoff
wilfully. voluntarily and carelessly''
to allow her to sink. Bench warrants
for the arrest Of wierse and Mueller
we're issued this afternoon. and wierss,
after arrest. was given hearing at
once to furnish bond. wierse fur
nished bond In the sum Of $4,000.
$4,000 on each count charged against
him. and was released late this after
noon to appear for trial In the fed
oral court at Aiken next October.
The separate Indictment against
Wierse IL similar to that to which
Klattenhoff yesterday pleaded guilty.
Capt. Klattsnhoff appeared In court
without counsel and made a complete
statement. refusing only to give the
name OF the man who handed him his
orders to sink the vessel. On the re-
quest Of the law frm Of Logan &
Grace. which had represented him be-
fore. sentence was postponed until
this morning. when Mr.. Grace ap-
peared in court and moved that the
two indictments then against Capt.
Klattenhoff. that Of sinking the ves-
Sci and that of conspiring with the
crew. be forthwith dismissed.
As the eight other members of the
crew had already been acquitted Of
the charge Of conspiring together to
sink the Liebenfels. he argued, the
indictment against Capt. Klattenhoff
automatically fell through. It being
legally impossible for q man to con-
splre with himself alone. Judge Smith
promised to hear him on this poin'
as soon as the jury was dismissed. On
the second indictment. Mr.. Grace re-
minded the court that he had himself
held In Florence that the crew did
not legally have to obey the captains
orders to sink the vessel. and that II
this were the case. then Capt. Klatten-
hon could not be found guilty for
merely ordering them to do something
they did not have to do. so long as
he did not help In It himself. This
was overruied, Sentence was then
pronounced on Capt. Klattenhoff on
the basis Of his confession Of yester-
day. and II was only afterwards that
the grand jury made its dramatic pre-
sentiments.