The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-12
U. S. RAIDERS
NET A BANKER
AND OTHERS
Printer and Associates Ar
rested in Crusade Against
Enemy Propaganda.
MANY DOCUMENTS SEIZED
Transatlantic Trust Co., Where
Accused Men Had Worked,
Is Not Affected.

10 INOJ AllCCtCus
Four arrests that Government agents
believe will prove of the utmost impor-
lance in combating enemy propaganda
In the United States were made in this
city yesterday by officials of the De-
partment OF Justice cooperating with Of
fcers OF the military and naval INTEL
ligence bureaus. Chief among the ar
rested men, who are held in three sep
arate jails for further investigation. Is
Julius Printer, Hungarian and for
ner president of the Transatlantic Trust
Company OF AZ Cedar street, whose ac-
tivities have been under investigation
for many months and whose prediction
of the arrival OF a German merchant
submarine in June. 1916. that would
carry money back to the Central Powers
Il remembered.
The others under arrest are Andrew
Gomary, 700 West End avenue. who was
private secretary to Printer; Guido
Won Steer. 1853 West 12lst street, who is
said to have been a secretary in the
Cabinet Of the late Emperor Francis
Joseph. and DIR. Isidor Szekely, 838
Kelly street, advertising manager Of the
bank.
After the arrests II became known
yesterday that for some weeks A Mitch
ell Palmer, Alien Property Custodian.
bad been in control Of the bank and had
recently ordered reorganization Of the
board of directors, forcing Printer out
Ex-Judge James A. Delehanty. repre-
senting the Allen Property Custodian !:
Charles F. De Woody. chief of the local
bureau of the Department of Justice, and
Rufus w. Sprague. chief of the enemy
alien bureau OF the port. said the ar
rests were the result of Independent ac-
ton and were connected in no way with
the reorganization OF the institutions
board OF directors
Banks Deposits Total S7,OOO,OOO.
Mr.. Delehanty who has been named
with others by Custodian Palmer as a
director Of the bank. said that the bank 3
business would be carried on with out in
terruDtlon and that the arrests had no
reflection upon the solvency of the inst-
tuition, which has deposits OF about
100000. belonging for the most part
to small Austrian. Hungarian and Ger
man depositors.
Mr.. Sprague added that whatever
action tie Government might take
against the men would be as individuals
and not as officials OF the bank.
News of the arrests caused a small
sensation in the financial district, where
Printers activities and the business
career of the Transatlantic Trust Com
pany have been matters of interest since
war was declared. The former bank
and his interest in Hungarian immi-
grants to tie United States has more
than once attracted the attention OF Fed
eral and State officials. Persons in the
financial district also recalled that It
was in the building occupied by the
Transatlantic Trust Company Franz
Rintelen. the German spy now In the
Tombs. occupied an office under the alias
Hanson" while plotting to blow up
American 81 ipS
In the reorganization as effected by
Alien Property Custodian Palmer these
five former directors of the bank were
left off the new board: julius Printer.
DR.. Arpad Gerster. 81 East Seventy
fifth street: Morris Cukor recently
elected president of the Municipal Civil
Service Commission; August Lenssen and
Gustave Leve.
FOur directors Retained.
The following former directors were
retained: II. Eieman Duval. president
of the American Beet Sugar Company !:
Walter Luttgen OF August Belmont &
Co, Walter G. Oakman. president Of the
HUDSON Company, and II. b. Fonda.
representing the Mutual Life Insurance
Company interests.
In addition Mr.. Palmer named the
following men to represent him on the
board and in the future conduct of the
banks business: Joseph 4. Bower,
vice-presdent OF the Liberty National
Bank; Frank S. Hastings. so Broad
way. member of the banking Arm of
Benedict & Co: William II. Barbour,
a lawyer of &c William street; John
F. Calhoun. real estate. of 200 West
Seventy -second street; Ernest Stauffen
OF the Liberty National Bank: Sterling
w. Childs; William Fl. English, vice
president of the Empire Trust Com
pany Henry c. Hawk. representing the
interests of the Postum Cereal Com
pany Alfred f. Smith, President of the
Board of Aldermen H. S. Freeman,
formerly of the Liberty National Bank.
and James A. Delehanty. representing
the Alien Property Custodian.
Mr. Delehanty made the following
statement last nigh:
Several weeks ago the Alien Prom
erty Custodian took over 70 per cent.
OF the stock of the Transatlantic Trust
Company that was owned by three of
the largest banks in Budapest. The
remaining 81 per cent Is held BY purely
American interests concerning whose
Amertcanism there isn't the slightest
question. Several weeks ago the Gus
todian named five directors to represent
him and last Tuesday added some more
I'm order to facilitate matters for
the custodian the members of the old
board rendered their designations and
1t was suggested by the retiring mem
'bcrs that those who held merely oualj-
Tying shares be left off the new board.
AS a result Messrs. Gerster. Lens
sen. Cukor. Leve and Printer have
retired from the board and 2. s. Free
man has been elected president OF the
bank. with IT. Rieman Duyal chair
mar of the board OF directors and ~
the ex. c".'"c committee
Bank In Excellent Condition.
The business of the bank will no
carried OH without Interruption The
bank Is in excellent condition and I, 10
the purposes OF the new officers, who are
experienced bankers, to administer its
nrairs Just as any other banking instltu
tion would be administered.
There is nothing In the action OF tho
custodian in respect to this institution
which differs from his action in Other
companies He has just taken control
which his stock holdings OF 70 per cent
ontitle him 70 do and the interests +of