New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-30
Police Prompted
Bomb Plot Say z,
Pleading Guilty
Lawyer Charges Member of
Bomb Squad Framed
Up" Germans

Judge Wadhams, sitting in General
Sessions, yesterday ordered an inv
:. cation Of the charge made by lsa-
dore Scherer. counsel for Wolf Ilirsch
and George Mieringer, that his clients
had been made the victims Of a plot
to give publicity to Detective Captain
Tunney's bomb squad. The judge also
accepted the tYo Germans pleas OF
guilty to having high explosives IN
their possession, and reduced their
bail from $4,000 10 $1,000 each They
will come up for sentence August {.
In his charge Mr.. Scherer declares
that the prisoners. who were arrested
April 80 while carrying q bomb to the
Offices Of j =. Morgan & Co., were
encouraged in the manufacture of the
Explosive b. q man named Miller.
member OF the bomb squad, whom
they had met while he was posing as
Wall Street Spectator.
Planned TO Cause stock Furry
The lawyers story was borne out by
testimony given by Hirsch when ar
raigned before Mag strate Groehl fol-
lOwirL the arrest We said AZ that
time that the bomb was merely part
Of a plan 10 cause scare on tho
stock market. thereby lowering prices
and permitting himself and Mierincer
20 profit. This plan had been sug
gested by man named Miller. Hirsch
testified then, who was 70 furnish
$4,000 TO back the deal after the mar
kct had been forced down by the ex-
plosion.
Captain Tunncy yesterday said that
he has no man named Miller on his
staff, but did not deny that one of
his men had worked on the Morgan
case. He refused 10 give the detcc-
tivc's name or 10 tell how he worked.
because such information, II made
public. might bc of assistance TO aiicn
enemies.
It was learned that Hirsch and
Mieringer. both Of whom are helpers
at the Roosevelt Hospital. had told
Harry Rein. Of Rein & Co, brokers,
that they had acted as spies in Petro-
grad. and on the strength Of this in
formation. the bomb squad had beeo
assigned 20 the case Their Original
plan. az first presented to Rein. had
been TO cause depression IN the mar
ket by issuing counterfeit kilograms,
announcing national catastrophes.
In asking Judge Wadhams to accept
from IIirsch and Mieriuger plea of
guilty 10 a lesser degree of crime than
the conspiracy with which they were
charged. Mr.. Scheror said:
81 regard Miller as the arch conspira-
tor. wanted him, and in attempting
TO learn why he had not been found,
arrested and indicted, / discovered tina.
he is 2 member Of the bomb squad
He deceived these men. led them 10
plot n crime and undoubtedly gave in
formation which led TO their arrest at
the most opportune time to reflect
glory on the squad.
Demands investigation
"Tochnically they are guilty. and the
District Attorney has agreed 10 accept
their pleas 20 a misdcmcanor charge
but earnestly request your honor 10
order an inyes gatisn 10 determine II
IL is necessary 20 countenance suen
tactics 90 the part Of the police"
Commissioner Woods, recalling the
attempt 10 destroy ST. PatrIck's Co
thedral with bombs. said that such
charges rs were made by Mr. Schcrcr
usually followed N bomb eases. Dis
trict Attorney Swami said he believed
that the police had ssted legally. what