The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1917-09-06
FATHER DEFENDS
ENSIGN K0PPEL
Believes Troubles of Young Officer
Will be Cleared Satisfactorily.

ne SIdltItul IdGe 10 the duIDOr-
tiles at Washington that Ensign Har-
wood KOppel, attached to the gunbOat
Castine, had told her commander he
had embeZZled money of the city of
New Orleans, and had asked to be
sent home that he might make resti-
tuition, surprised Koppels friends. the
more so that he had never been in a
position to embeZzle funds. He was
a clerk in the auditors department.
! George KOppel, the father, said his
son had obtained a commission as en-
sign by individual effort, and without
political influence of any sort, and
surprised his friends by giving up a
more lucrative position to join the
| navy. The father added:
He volunteered the first or second
day that the navy recruiting office
was opened here, and although stat
ing that he had no naval experience,
was told that he could be made use
of as an intelligence officer, his pre-
viOus experience as a reporter on var
iOus papers fitting him for that pur-
pose.
After thorough examination by the
naval authorities, he was given a
commission as ensign and attached
to the naval station at Algiers. The
cOmmandant found him useful in
drilling recruits, as he had had pre-
viOus military experience He per
formed his duty satisfactorily for sew
erdl months and received the com.
mendation of his superior officers
there.
When the Castine was ready to
sail they needed one more ensign and
he was asked to volunteer. which he
did. \ weeks service at sea proved
to him that he erred in accepting that
duty, as he had no sea training what
ever. And he registered a transfer
to land service again, which was dis
approved, although recommended by
the captain of his ship.
His father and friends have no
doubt that the matter will be cleared
up satisfactorily to the Navy Depart
ment and to his many friends here,
who have no doubt of his honesty"
Dispatches from Washington and |
other newspaper articles regarding
koppel and his affairs are as follows:
Washington, Sept. l. Is Ensignl
HarwOod kOppel. on board the Cas-
tine, a gun boat of the Atlantic fleet. |
an embezzler of the city funds of New
Orleans?H
The commander of the Castine has !
informed the Navy Department thatI
KOppel has confessed and has asked |
TO be sent home that he may make
restitution
Mayor Behrman of New Orleans, |
who is in Washington, says it is i'm
possible that Koppel could have taken
any funds belonging to the city.
The Navy Department is mystified
1t has ordered koppel back to the
United States for an investigation. If
1t is found he is telling the truth, he
probably will be dismissed from the
service and if it is found he told an
story in order to be sent
home, his punishment will be dis
missai. Koppel is former member
of the Louisiana LEGISLATURE
He was employed in the office of
the city auditor in New Orleans but
never, according TO Mayor Behrman.
had access TO any of the city funds.
His father, George KOppel in New
Orleans, has received dispatches from
the son saying his arrest is all a mis-
take and that he is heart-broken. The
captain of the Castine, however, de-
clares Koppel voluntarily confessed
to taking money from the city.
Friends in New Orleans who know
Of the efforts of Mr. KOppel to get out
Of the navy scout the idea that he
has taken any funds from the city.
He handled none. They think he
merely told the story in the hope that
he might be enabled to obtain his re-
lease
Ensign KOppel's father Saturday is
sued statement denying published
statements that he got the ensigni
post through politics. AS a matter of
fact, young Koppel quit job paying
more money than that of ensign and
stood and passed examinations in thel
navy station here. When the gun-I
boat left New Orleans it was an en-
sign short and Koppel volunteered to
20 with the understanding that he
would be transferred to land duty as Z
soon as possible