New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Death Stalked
Many Plotters

Many Flotters
Murder or sudden death has not un-
commonly been the fate of pro-German
plotters who knew too much or were
suspected of an inclination to talk.
Sometimes it may be pneumonia or
other natural cause, as in the case of
the Beautiful Turk; sometimes suicide,
as when Magu Ram, arrested in Ha-
vaYia for completely in the Hindu plot,
hanged himself in Jacksonville en- route
to San Francisco. Sometimes fate
worse than death befalls. There is
John Singh, brother Of Ram Singh,
caught in the dragnet in Chicago and
taken West for trial. He is insane.
But such things are to be expected
from the diplomacy Of nation which
is not satisfied to have its representa-
tives lie for their own country, but in
sists that they must also plot against
the peace and welfare Of the countries
to which they are accredited, even TO
the extent of becoming accessories to
the facts of murder, arson, the mali
cious destruction Of property.
After all, the Kaiser would not have
been involved in this Hindu plot but
for a slight error in the Wilhelmstrasse
Bureau of Psychological Research. Ex-
perts of the German Foreign Office,
hearing from their spies ill India OF
the discomfort of a small percentage
of the population, pictured themselves
as instigating another Sepoy mutiny
at the least, and of involving the war
like Moslems of India in Holy War
at the best, which would not only Grip
pie Great Britain but divert her troops
from Europe to Southern Asia. There
fore, no price could be too high. What
the price actually was is matter of
dispute, but according tc testimony
brought out at the San Francisco trial
on December 81 las. Srinivas R.
Wagel, an Indian we'll known in New
York, had asked Count Won Bernstorff
for $2O.O00.oo0.
Took 100000 From
Wolf Won Igel
Thomas l.. Tunncy, lead of New
york's police bomb squad. testified that
he had been told of Wacels request
by DIR. Chandra X. Chakravarty, one
of the defendants, and that Chakra-
varty admitted having received from
Wolf Won Igel 100000, and said that
Herambra Lal Gupta. another defend
ant, had taken $4,000 from Captain
Won Papen.
DR.. Chakravarty, who seems to have
been the directing mind for the plot
ters in this country, electrified his CO.
conspirators in court on April II wher
nc said: II do not deny my relation.
with Germany" In word he con-
fessed. but his story in court was SO
phrased as to represent him as the
miidest Of conspirators:
Il had not the right to violate the
neutrality laws OF the United States
and did not do So" DR.. Chakravarty
said. "Why did accept German gold
Because internal organization without
external aid Is impossible in our pre.
dicsment-and Germany offered the
best way out. We in India are cndcay-
oring to do just 40 America did in 177e
While Washington was struggling a,
home Benjamin Franklin WAS seeking
aid in France. While my countrymen
are struggling at home / &ou2ht aid in
Berlin.
Personally, / did not attempt to pu,
on foot military enterprise, for the
reason that did not think a military
enterprise possible without the tacit
consent OF the United States--and that
WAS out OF the question. But I did
spread our propaganda and expended