The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-04
.SPARTANBURG MAN INDICTED.
A. GEILFUSS, MEMBER OF GER.
MAN COLONY, ACCUSED OF
RECEIVING STOLEN
ARMY GOODS.
Senator Tiliman and Representative
Nichols Take Hand i'm The Case.

'N" o'"ISS commissioner RODt
D. CAN'T, here this afternoon and
bound over for trial in United States
Court Of the Western District of
South Carolina on the charge Of re-
ceiving goods stolen from the United
States government. The bond was
fixed at $4,000, assistant District At
torney Wyche appeared for the pros
ecution and former Gov. John Gary
Evans appeared for Mr.. Geilfuss. This
Is the case growing out Of the arrest
and conviction at Camp Wadsworth
several weeks ago Of Cook Diminick
Riva, and Private John Bower of the
loZd Ammunition Train under the
S4th article OF war, which prohibits
soldiers from selling or disposing of
goods issued for use in the military
service of the United States.
1t later involved United States Sem
ator Tillman and Congressman Sam T.
Nichols, through kilograms sent by
those gentlemen from Washington to
United States Commissioner CAN'T and
District Attorney Thurmond, direc-
ing those officials to take no action
against Mr. Geilfuss until they were
heard from. The two soldiers were
convicted end sentenced to four
months hard labor. The goods which
the soldiers were said to have taken
from camp from time to time were
alleged specifications to have been
disposed Of by giving them to one
August Geilfuss q civilian" The
property was meat and canned goods
valued at $4,000 the case has been
handled by the military police who
were working under instructions to
lind out who were stealing from the
mess shacks Of the camp. They ar
rested Riva and Bowers, and seized a
bag containing canned goods and
meat as it was being taken into the
Geilfuss home
Under the federal law the person
receiving goods stolen from the gov
ernment is liable for heavy fine and
imprisonment so it was this danger
that caused Mr.. Geilfuss and two
friends, W. M. Floyd, a former post
master of Spartanburg, and S. l.. Rig
by to 60 to Washington for con-
sultation with Congressman Nichols
They also stated their case to Sem
ator Tillman and the results were the
following telegrams:
Robert j. CAN'T. United States
Commissioner, Spartanburg, S. c..
please do not hand out indictment
or have warrant issued for Gus Cell
fuss until hear further from US.
(Signed)
"B. r Tillman,
Sam j. Nichols"
This is what Senator Tillman wired
to Mr.. Thurmond:
Hon j. w. Thurmond, District At
torney. Greenville, S. c.
Nichols has wired you re Geilfuss
matter. Please conform with his re-
quest. y. r. Tillman"
These kilograms were given out bv
Senator Tillman in letter addressed
tc j. c. Otis, of Spartanburg. who
had written him for an explanation of
lis part I'M the Geilfuss case. The
senator said in his letter to Otis that
nobody but a d fool will find
fault with me for doing So" Follow
ing publication of the fact that Sena-
tor Tillman and Congressman Mich
oils had interested themselves in the
Gellfuss case to the extent of winning
court officials both contributed long
statements concerning their part in
the matter. In Sparanburg County
the affair has created political SEN
sation.
AT the hearing today facts not here
tofore brought out in the case ap
peared. The first witness to testify
at today's hearing was Corporal J.
Williamson, of the military police. He
told Of having been assigned to the
task Of finding out who was stealing
from the mess shacks at Camp Wads-
worth. He said he and Private
Thomas followed Mr.. Geilfuss' auto
robile from the city to the camp one
afternoon, saw the automobile stop
before a cooks shack, saw Cook Bow
ers bring out a sack and place in the |
auto and then return trip to town was |
begun. Followed the auto to the Cell
fuss bakery and then to the Geilfuss
home, ia Converse street. When |