The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-17
PRISON FOR WIERSE,
PRO-GERMAN OIIARLESTON EN-
TOR CONVICTED OF CON.
SPIRACY.
Federal Jury Finds Paul Wicrsc Guilty
OF Conspiracy to Sink the German
Ship Liebenfcls I'm Charleston Har.
bor--Sentencc Two Years and ST..
900 Fine,

torial writer on the staff of the Cb.r-
lesion American, and Johann KIat-
tenhof, formerly captain Of the Ger
man merchant vessel Liebenfels. were
found guilty in federal court here to.
day of conspiracy to sink the Leben-
fels in Charleston harbor last Feb.
ruary.
The jury returned the verdict at
LIS o'clock today after having been
in the jury room since 1885 O'clock
AT LIS o'clock they came out to ask
the court whether they could return
verdict of guilty or not guilty as to
all OF the three defendants, Wierse,
klattenhoff and DR.. w. Mueller, for
mer German consul at Atlanta, who is
named with them cojointly in the in.
dictment. Judge Smith advised the
jury that Mueller could neither be ac-
quilted nor convicted as he is at pres
ent a fugitive.
Judge Smith Immediately sentenced
the men. Wierse was sentenced to
pay fine of $1,000 and to serve two
years in the federal penitentiary at
Atlanta. Klattenhoff, who is already
serving penitentiary terms. was sem
fenced to pay fine Of 500 and to
serve six months in addition to his
present time.
The first witness for the defense
this morning, when the court resumed
the hearing of the case, was the war
den of the Atlanta penitentiary. War
den Zerbst testified that Captain Klat-
tenhon had been in the hospital since
he was received at the Atlanta. peni-
tentiary. Klattenhoff did not take the
stand as was expected. The defense
had no further witnesses and the
United States nothing in reply.
Upon the completion Of the testi-
mony John p. Grace asked the court
to direct verdict in favor of the
two defendants, which was promptly
refused.
| L. Waites Waring, assistant district
attorney, made the opening argument
Tor the government. Mr.. Warnings
argument was clinching. He wove
from the evidence which had been
presented a strong case against Wierse
and Klattenhoff and laid particular
stress upon the congratulatory tele-
gram which was sent by Wierse t,
DR.. Mueller on the evening Of Janu-
ary 81, the day before the sinking of
the Liebenfels.
Mr.. Waring was followed by John
r. Grace. At the close of his argu-
ment Mr.. Grace made the statement
that the government had brought the
charge of conspiracy against Paul
liWierse because Of Wierse's connec-
ton with the Charleston American;
that the government officials had over
looked the German consul and the son
of tho German consul at Charleston
to strike at the Charleston Ameri-
can through Wierse.
You have no right to make such
statements, sir" said Judge Smith. in
dignantly interrupting Mr.. Grace.
This court will not permit them"
Mr.. Grace then asked for more time.
mot another word, sir; sit down"
District Attorney Francis II. vyes-
ton, in the closing argument for the
government, assumed all responsible
ity for the prosecution Of Wierse,
Klattenhoff and DR.. Mueller.
Again this morning. as yesterday
Mr.. Grace attempted to introduce tes-
timony to show the ownership of the
Charleston Evening Post and the
Charleston News and Courier, but this
was not permitted by the court.
Judge Smith made an exhaustive
charge to the jury OH the points of
law involved in the case. He made
it plain to the jury that Wierse and
KlattenhOff were not on trial for sink |
ing the Liebenfels, nor for conspir-
acy to demOlish that vessel, but for
conspiracy to sink the Liebenfels i'm
Charleston harbOr, and he held that
if Wierse had knowledge Of Klatten-
hOff's purpose and intention to sink |
the vessel and stood by and permitted |
the Liebenfels to be sunk, his fail
ure to perform his duty in the premis-
es might determine his part in the
conspiracy
The jury retired at 1885 o'clock.
the court room being we'll crowded.
Wierse's son was in the court room.
The stOlid expression Of Klatten-
hoff's face did not change when the
verdict of guilt was rendered, but
Wierse was visibly disappointed. He
had shown a nervousness during the