The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-19
Sold at Farms and Small Towns
in Eastern Part.
German s'Disease Plot" in end,
4th and 5th Districts.
IMMACULATE GUINEA PIGS
Federal Psychologists Making
Tests With TetanuS Germs.
Plot Equivalent to Poisoning
Well Water in France.

Kansas City, July 19.-FarmerS and
residents of the smaller towns of the
Second, Fourth and Fifth congression-
al districts of Kansas were thought to
possess large quantities of tetanus in
fected court plaster, alleged to have
been distributed by three men now in
custody under federal jurisdiction in
different towns of the state. As a
result Fred Robertson, United States
district attorney for Kansas, today
was sending out warnings from his
office in Kansas City, Kan. against
the use of any of the suspected ma
terial.
Investigation of the supposed plot
continued today with every federal
agency in Kansas at work to prevent
spread of the disease. Large numbers
of plasters. seized when three ped
oilers Were arrested, were being used
in tests to determine more positively
the degree of infection and also if pos
sible to uncover clews that might
lead to further arrests. However,
with the publicity already given the
case, any further attempt to dispose
of the material by itinerants immed-
lately would be reported to him.
Experimenting With Germs.
Kansas City, July 19.-Federal
chemists and psychologists were pre-
pairing today to innoculate guinea pigs
with cultures obtained from speci-
mems of court plaster believed to be
impregnated with tetanus germs and
alleged by the authorities 20 have been
disseminated thruout Kansas by ped
dlers as part of plot to plunge the
state into an epidemic of disease.
n of nv 60 ra1ot tel hall r.,
be of Germanic origin, has not been
disclosed by Fred Robertson. United
States district attorney for Kansas, in
charge of the investigation but it is
understood that the names of some of
the men under arrest are of
Teutonic origin. Identity of the men
has not been disclosed nCr have the
places of their detention been an
nounced The latter move was de-
clared to have been taken to prevent
any possible mob action. The court
plaster under suspicion was sold or
given away, was put in rhe conven-
tional flat package. In some, chemists
said, all the sheets were treated with
the deadly germs, while in others only
one or two sheets were affected.
The first possible fatality from
such a plot was reported here last
night from Winfield, Kan, where a
man died after treating an apparently
: harmless sore on his leg with court
plaster and poisoning his entire sys-
| tenn as a result. No definite connec-
ever, has ben established with this
| instance.
The arrested men are expected to
| be brought here for exa mination
shortly, by which time it is believed
| definite analysis will have been made
from the suspected court plaster.
May Be Others.
! While chemists are seeking to iden-
tify germs found with the tetanus ba-
/ cilli in cultures on court plaster scat
tered broadcast thru western Kansas
by German agents, federal officials
today are spreading a net which is
| expected to result in additional al :
rests.
State officials are also making every
| effort to learn in what additional dis
| tricts the malignant plasters were dis
! tributed in order to forestall unneces-
sary contagion.
The court plasters, investigators
have found. are marked N. tShure &
| Company, so, Chicago. Inquiries OF
Nathan Shure & Company today es-
tablished the fact that the Chicago
firm merely acts as middlemen fo1
Bauer & Black.
/ G. T. Bauer, president of Bauer &
Black, stated to federal investigators
! that if court plasters from his firm
| had been used to spread disease they
had been 'doctored" after leaving the
| factory.
1T certainly is possible that plasters
can be used to spread disease" Mr.
| Black told special agents. Wherever
| the plaster is spread over an oper
wound or even scratch, it gives the
germ an opportunity to get a foothol6
in the blood of the intended victim
Discovered in Western Kansas.
There are three sheets of plaster
in each packag e, Fred Robertson, dis
trict attorney said. When sent ou
from the factory there are fifty sheets
to the package The peddlers sold OIL
gave away the reduced packets
The discovery of the plot was made
by two western Kansas sheriffs whose
names the federal officials refuse tc
reveal The officers became suspi.
cious when the peddlers, who spoke
with a German accent, generously lef
samples where they could not sci
| their wares.
The activity, equaIled only by the
poisoning of French wells by Ger.
mans, is believed to be a part of 6
widely laid scheme.
Appeal for Aid.
Mr.. Robertson telegraphed today t.
Attorney General Gregory a Wash
ington. asking aid to coneLCt a vigor
Gus investigation of the alleged plot
He also authorized the postmaster a
Winfield. Kan, to inquire into tn.
recent death there of Charles Null
ford The man was repo~.ed to hav.
died of tetanus and it was asserted
the infection followed application t.
slight leg wound of court plastic
given him by persons believed to hav,
been of German origin.