New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-11
Three Arrested
Here for Plot
To Bomb Ships
Declared to Have Operated
Against Merchantmen
With Supplies for Allies


One more nest Of German conspira-
tors who dcfed all the laws Of neu-
trality and conspired to sink Allied
ships from this port before America
entered the war has been uncovered by
the police
Three of those charged with having
been most active in the conspiracy
were arrested here last night by Cap
tain Tunney and his men of the police
bomb squad. All have confessed. &C
cording to the police. They were:
Eugene Riester, owner and manager
Of the Germania Masonic Temple, at
22O East Fifteenth Street, thirty-two
years old, married and. although born
In Germany, a naturalized citizen.
Joseph Zefsrt, known as Peter the
Jew" Of Sylvan Place, thirty-seven,
born in America, and was good
citizen. He admitted that he had as
ISOLATED with his German friends sole
ly because it provided him with good
livelihood.
Walter Uhde, thirty, Of 1912 Linden
Place, Brooklyn, an alien enemy.
More Arrests Coming
The story Of their arrest and the
facts leading up TO them was given out
at Police Headquarters late last night
by Captain Tunney. He admitted that
there were certain facts which he
could not make public at this time. and
that he expected to make more arrests
in connection with the same alleged
conspiracy.
The history Of the case dates back to
March. 1915. At that time information
came 70 the police that German SYM
pathizers in New York had been sup
piled with a large fund. the purposes
Of which were to provide for the waglng
Of a ruthless warfare against neutral
and Allied shipping and which contem-
plated wholesale murder, If such be
necessary for the consummation Of
their plans.
Detectives Busby, Barnitz and Correll
were assigned 70 the case at that time
and have been working on II ever since.
They have at all times been close to
their prey, hut until last night failed 10
quite get them within their grasp.
In the time that has elapsed the con-
spirators have succeeded in'doing more
than $4,000 900 damage, according TO
Captain Tunney. Several ships on
which they placed bombs have been
sunk at sea. A number of others hsve
been set on fire while at their piers in
New York's harbor.
Had Psuedo Law Office
Back in March of 1915 DR.. Carl
Schimmel had what purported to be q
law Office in the Immigrant Savings
Bank Building, at 81 Chambers Street.
In this same building are the chambers
of the justices of the Supreme Court
Of New York State. Here in March
two years ago the three men under ar
rest met with Schimmel, Captain Won
Rintelin, who is now in the Tombs in
default Of $4,000 bail; Otto Wolpert,
who was then superintendent of the
Atlas Line, Pier 81, North River, and
who is now interned, and Captain
Sternberg held a conference. at which,
according 10 Captain Tunney, the con-
spiracy to war on shipping was hatched.
Later in the month Wolpert, Stern
berg. Schimmel, Riester and Chde met
at the Labor Lyceum, 949 Willoughby
Avenue. Brooklyn, and took the frst
active steps toward carrying out. their
plot. At the previous meeting $4,000 in
cash had been divided between Wolpert
and Schimmel as an expense fund for
carrying on their operations, it is
charged
Given Several Bombs
At the second meeting Riester was
given several bombs and a quantity OF
money which he was TO pay 10 others.
Wolpert at that meeting supplied the
names Of about thirty ships. with their
locations at New York piers. and the
destination for which they were about
10 sail.
A third meeting early in April was
held at the same place, Schimmel VOL
pert and Riestcr being joined ~ this
meeting by man named Schelle, who
had a chemical laboratory in Hoboken.
That laboratory was afterwsrd ralded
and Schelle is now believed TO be IN
Europe.
This third-meeting was held the
night before the Lusitania sailed.
When Riester left the Lyceum he car
ried six bombs and 500 in cash TO
Uhde. according TO Captain Tunney.
Captain Tunney could not say posi-
lively that any of these bombs found
their way on to the doomed ship, but
he did say that, following the sinking
Of the Lustania, Schimmel boasted ''he
had covered the Lusitania on both sides
with nine cigars. She got it from
both angles"
Samples of these cigars which
were bombs. wore found in Schelle's