The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-13
PAUL W|ERsE ON TRIAL.
CHARLESTON AMERICAN EDITOR
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
TO SINK LIEBE.NFELS.
Conxratulatory Telegram sent by De-
fenJant to German Consul Intro
dnccd by Government.

the stan or the Charleston American,
to pr. Mueller. then German consul
at Atlanta. at s.45 o'clock ON the af-
ternSon OF january 81. 1917. the even
ing OF the sinking of the German nor
chart ship Lebenfels i'm Charleston
harbor. seemed tonight to depend thc
outcpme OF the trial oil Wiersc and
Capt. Johann Klattenhoffer. cojointly
charged with - w. Mueller. who Is
said 70 be a fugfSve from justice In
Ecuador. charged with conspiracy to
sink the Liebenfels.
smee t.O5 O'CLOCK wierse has been
on the stand and has been subjected to-
gruelhng cross-examination b.
Assistant District Attorney warlng.
He was relieved only by adjournment
OF court. Wierse had been led by his
attorney. John II. Grace. to relate TO
the court story i'm rcfutation OF the
chain OF circumstantiai evidcnc.
which the government had built up
around him. but n great deal of this
was torn down by the ross-oxamina-
ton. particularly that part of wieise's
story told I'm explanation OF a series OF
four telcgrams OF which the ono con
gratulating the German consul was
the lass.
Ths government offered i'm eviGenc.
this morning four kilograms. two Ia
German and two In English. which
together with letter which
wierac admits transmitting to Captai,.
klattenhoff from Dr. Mueller. the goy-
ernment will claim form the link con-
necting Wierse with the sinking OF
the l.iebenfels. These kilograms rca,.
as follows. In the order OF their Sc
quenee:
Atlanta. Ca. June 80. 1919.
ITO Emil Jahnz. No. Is Bull stree,
Charleston. s. c.
Please wire whether wierse has re-
ceivel my letter OF last Saturday.
tSignedD ''Dr. Mueller"
charleston. s. c.. Jan. 81. 1917.
German Consul lMueller. Atlanta.
Ca.
"Wierse claims letter has been sent
must be in Atlanta by now.
(Siyned) "Jahnz."
Atlanta. Ca. Jan. 81. 1917.
Paul Wicrse. Care Charleston Amer
ican. Charleston. :. c..
II am agreed on proposal since
very urgent,
tSiBned) "Dr. Mueller
charleston. s. c.. Jan. 81. 1917.
"Gerrnan Consul. DR.. Mueller. Allan
Ia. Ga.
Congratulations.
(Sisncd) Paul"
The last telegram was dispatched
from Charleston at S.45 y. I'm. the ar
ernoon before the sinking OF the
Liebenfels.
In explanation OF this series of telc-
grams Wierse told the court that he
knew absolutely nothing about the
first one to Emile Jahnz nor OF
Jahmr's answer. He declared that ne
knew DR.. Mueller only slightly. bu
that six or seven days prior TO dis
patching the congratulatory telegram
ne received from DR. Mueller a letter
addressed to him In substance:
MY Dear Friend: Inclosed please
ind hettcr. kindly give this person
ally To Captain Klattenhoff."
A postscript TO this letter. declare
Wierse. spoke of DR. Mucller's ca
gngcment to a young woman. or tina,
ne. rr. Mueller. had been accepted b.
Young lady.
In reply TO this letter. wiersc de-
ciared he wrote Dr. Mueller stating
that Captain KlattcnhOff was out
Charleston. but that II the matter was
urgent he (Wierse) would hire an au-
tomobile and deliver the letter person.
ally wlerso claimed that the tele-
gram OF January 81. OF Dr. Mueller a.
irtnf. was merely to authorize him to
hire the automobile TO go TO Mullet
Hall. on Johns Island. where Captain
Kht.cnhon was staying at thu
time Hc admitted holding tho letter
for Captain Klattenhoir. and then siS
days after It's receipt. wiring DIR
Mueller his congratulations" which
ne claims. was because OF Dr. Muel-
iers engagement.
And you sent the congratulatory
telegram collect" thunderod Assistaul
Oistrlct Attorney Waring And this
was ak or seven days after you hat
received Mueller's letter."
The trial had proceeded To- this
stage when court adjourned for th