New-York tribune., 1918-01-29
Letter Struggled Out Of
Tombs Introduced at
Bomb Trial
Defendants Thrown
Into CONSERVATION
Missive Incriminated Many
and Caused Internment
of Stallforth

\ lcttcr. invoking tho aid of "the
invisible hand" which Captain Franz
Rintclcn, German plot master. cndeav-
orcd to smugglc from his cell in the
Tombs on behalf of Bonford Bonifacc.
alleged bomb placer, was read in Fed
cral Judge llowc's court yesterday and
caused CONSERVATION among the six
teen Germans on trial there for at
tempting to blow up the British
freightcr Kirk Oswald.
The letter, addressed to Frcderico
Stallfortb, a German banker, formerly
Of Parral, Mexico. New York and Bcr-
lin, but now Of Ellis Island. failed to
reach "thc invisible hand Instead, it
fell into the hands Of Assistant United
States Attorney james w. Osborne, jr.
It's production in court yesterday
astoundcd Rintclcn and prccipitated ex-
cited conferences among his counsel.
In addition to supplying the govern
mcnt with important evidence against
the plot master and his co-defendan.s.
the letter, it developed yesterday, in
spircd the sudden arrest, ten days ago,
Of Stallforth, described as zone os the
most dangerous enemy aliens cXtant."
The letter. dated October 19, 1917, and
addressed by Rintclcn to "My dearest
Stallforth." Was accompanied by note
addressed to Eintelen by Boniface. also
an inmate Of the Tombs.
Asked Kintelcn for Help
"Al my appeals to the outside world
remain unanswered" wrote Bonifacc.
81 am sick with lung and several other
complaints and am pcnniless. Won't
you. in the name of God, come to my
assistance? They had me down TO the
District Attorneys Office to- day in the
hope of my giving them information.
even though it we're untrue If | had
lawyer and a little money ! would be
contented. knowing your manly ma
ture, again take the liberty of beg
ging you to assist me.
Enclosed you VIII find a note from
Bonfacc." wrote Rintclen to Stall
forth. 'lIc sent me this note ycster-
day. and the sentence as to the lawyer
seems to be remarkable. One might
infer that Bonifacc would be a most
unreliable witness if called TO the
stand, and | want to keep the note
therefore, in case of need namely in
case of an endeavor to frame me UP
despite the fact that Mr.. Knox assist
ant United States attorney told Mr.
Battle (Rintelen's Attorney that am
not indicted in tho bomb plot reported
the other day.
"Thc question arises, however.
whether it would not be advisable to
arrange with the invisible hand for
lawyer for b; so that Mr.. Wolpert,
who seems TO be involved by testimony
given by Mr.. Rcistcr. could be helped
out of trouble. Boniface reported fur
thcr to me that he is involved by Mr..
koenig. However, as he WAS arrested
along with the Rester gang (people
whom | never had any dealings with)
1T seems to be poss iblc that through
false testimony. in order TO save his
own skin. h. might be capable of bring
ing, Captain Wolpert into trouble as
We'll and they are very much after
Wolpert's scalp.
"Bonlfacc knows me through Captain
Sternberg. who had him on his payroll
for obtaining information as to neutral
soips liable to take goods through the
tngllsil lines. But he seems to be the
KIND of man who would be prepared
to give any KIND of tcstimony'
Says Rintelen Admitted Activities
nc government sprang another s,Ir
prise attack by the introduction as a
witness Of Frederick ITenjes. a ship
ping broker, of 81 Water Street Henics
SAID he was introduced to Rintelen in
April. 1915, by Captain Stcrnberg
Rlntelen gave his name as Hansen ana
invited HenJes to a Bcekman Street
cafe. where he confided that he was y
representative of the German govern
ment and was highly interested in ston
ping she shipment Of munitions and
tf1I
Allies. ~ '"o
II have sisters and brothers frht;n,
Tor Germany" lIenjcs quoted Rintelen
as saying. and every shipment of mn
nit'ons strikes me as an arrow in tEe
heart" ~ '''c
"tic then asked me-" continued Hon
les, if could put him in touch with
., h,e,, VINO would engage in the work OF
o'ow,ng up bridges and steamers /
told him | could not Later roneatod
MS statement TO the United States A.
torney." ''"'oo '\'-
dohn {. Hammond. an ADVERTISING ev
49,; VINO was retained by Rintelen ia
.iHnuuet an advertising campaign ror
me purpose OF Infringing about closer
Stato sialiohs between the United
1; 11.a.es ana Germany," testified 5hat ia
"tseontlnued his services when he fnu,
70 hc ho"n.pa,sh was not what it purportc
10 pe. and brought Rintelen's .;rro',,, ,'
1r'Il'lSs TO the attention of Iosen,,
iunulty. the Presidents secreta''r .,a o'I
he teI pra' 20 tnat Of Colonel Z. NJ. Houss
'"e PRESIDENTS adviser. ''"'e'
Says tie Spent Millions
,ta,, maa'eien was most bitter" SAID A.,
,',.';. n",u'"ohd. "fte said the shipment of
munitions to the Allies was r,ne", uncons,' 81
aoha' Its discontinuancc Would I''' hc of
sreatcr Importance to the (crn,a,'
cause cause than the taking of Iondon '''~'. nr
iar's' he told me. STOPPING ti'con th" traTn Ts
Se"nen ..n,' TO bc his chief concern
nat plans for stopping il had ho
i.'ita, unuer 'cons'dcratlon?" c >" asked Assistant
n'ied States Attorney Osborne
nc mad retained the legal firm or
DAVIS. Aucrbach and Cornell to hrin,r w
suit IN the Supreme Court to tcs9 ,hee ,i'e
conStitutlonaiity OF the law pcrmjttjno
lhe trade. And he asked if il wonlJ
ne possible 30 get 1t member of tbn
United states Supreme Court to rcnder
an opinlon on the matter durinp n re-
cess OF the court in consideration of .
fee, replied the witness. OR. Schim
mel told him that any Supreme Court
Justice would be glad to earn such a
fee
What did YOU tell him ." asked MIR
Osborne.