Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-23
HOLD QUINTET
SUSPECTS IN NY
BOMB OUTRAGE
"Seamen" in New Or
leans Prison Await
ing Probe
Taken From Steamer Rushville
by Order Justice Department
Held on Mutiny Charge
While Further Investigation
is Being Made

New Orleans, La, March 22.-Held
in separate cells in the New Orleans
parish prison tonight were five men
who classified themselves as seamen
but who Capt. J. H. 3. VanWeeldern
of the New York & Cuba Line freighter
Rushville said, and department of JUS
tice officials intimated, might be
wanted in New York in connection
with the investigation of the Wall
street bomb plot Of last Stepember 16.
Shackled hand and foot, the men were
taken from the steamer Rushville to-
day, hustled to the parish prison and
booked under the following names:
Philip Bender. Lionel Kuebereezuff,
Rudolph Borsh, Hans Randin and
Henrik Lipan. They were then held
incommunicado.
After Captain NanWeeldern had re-
lated the manner in which the men
were captured and the difficulties en-
countered in moving them from Rio
de Janeiro to New Orleans he, too,
became communicative and tonight
would make no further statement. De-
partment of justice officials said they
were awaiting Instructions"
Last Saturday when the Rushville
was approaching this port the master
wirelesscd the department of justice
requesting that they care for five con
sular prisoners" Elaborate prepara-
tions were made for handling the cap
tives and they were treated as des-
perate men from the time federal off,
GERS took them over from the ship
guard under which they were in charge.
Orders issued by the master of the
RuShville were that no member of the
crew should discuss the prisoners with
outsiders under penalty of salary re-
auctions. The captain, however, relat-
ed the circumstances leading up to
his acceptance of the men as involun-
tary passengers.
Late last month, according to Cap
tain VanWeeldern, the United States
Shipping Board steamship City OF AL
ton, then nearing Rio de Jareiro, re-
ceived a wireless message, presumably
from officials OF the United States
government, requesting arrest of the
five men. A fight started and, ac-
cording to Captain VanWeeldern, it
was with extreme difficulty that the
men were subdued, placed in irons
and taken to Rio de Janeiro, where
they were imprisoned.
Janeiro, according to the captain, re-
ques ted the Munson Line steamer Ycro
to take the quintet to New York. where
it was said they were wanted" Still
heavily guarded, the men were placed
aboard the Yoro and in some manner,
according TO the Nashville captain,
started a furious fight. The Yoro's
master then speedily returned them
to the Rio de Janeiro jail.
About that time the Rushville
came in to load coffee for New Or
leans and Vice Consul Thomas man
aged to persuade Captain NanWeeldcrn
to attempt transportation of the pris-
oners. I'VE accepted and here they
art" the captain said
The prisoners, apparently between
IS and IS years of age, were said to
be for the most part we'll educated,
some speaking several languages. The
officers of the Rushville spent the day
and part of tonight in the offices of
the department of justice. No indi-
cation was given as to when the pris-
oners would be taken to New York,
orders apparently being awaited.