The New York herald., 1921-06-16

ernment's men. told the policemen that
the arms were In the custody of the
United states.
''show me your warrant" demanded
Cornelli
1--WE have no warrant. but we arc con-
fiscating arms that we have reason 10
believe were on their way TO ireland, :"
replied Curran.
The cops produced the warrant pro-
cured by Williams, and Williams rushed
10 a telephone to call his lawyer, Thomas
]. OrNeill, 25s Broadway. New York city.
O'Neill arrived in Hoboken before the
argument on the pier was concluded.
Leaving a guard over the guns. O'Neill
Tor the city OF Hoboken. telephoned the
United States Custom House In New
York.
While they contended that the stuff
should be taken to Police Headquarters
in Hoboken because the United States
would be holding it illegally, III that
its representatives had no warrant they
We're informed by the Assistant Sur
veyor of the Port that the matter would
have to be threshed out in court any
way. so 1t would be quite all right to
take the guns to the police station for
the rest OF the day and over night.
day the Government men have been
working on information Indicating that a
large consignment of machine guns and
all the ammunition that these guns
could use in a prolonged battle were due
to depart for Ireland from the port Of
New York. The story the Department
OF Justice men were working on was a
fantastic one.
Sinn Fein Enemy Informs.
II seemed some one not entirely in
sympathy with the Sim Fein programme
told the Government officials that nego-
tiations for machine guns had been en-
tered into by agents of the Irish Repub-
lican army here In America, and that
several manufacturers and representa-
tives of manufacturers had been inter
viewed by tine Irishmen. Spot cash was
to have been paid. but no one wanted to
enter into the transaction because of the
risk Well known manufacturers
wouldn't iisten and dealers such as the
Bannerman people used to be declined
to negotiate openly.
Thus informed. the Government men
decided that until they learned OF sue
cessful negotiations by the Irishmen
with some American dealer they would
watch the ports. on Monday they re-
ceived notice that a deal had been made.
but the information did not include the
name of the parties to the negotiations.
Monday night they learned enough to
warrant the search of the Hoboken
docks. A sailor, described as possessing
:, strong cockney accent, communicated
with customs officials and told them
that machine guns were being loaded on
several freighters in the harbor
He Is alleged to have added that
there was lot of double crossing going
on That statement was not interpreted
yesterday, but may come out in the in
vestigation that the Department of JUS
tice will inaugurate to-day Williams
refused to describe himself of his busi-
ness, Undoubtedly the Department Of
Justice will ask him. i'm the course of
weapons and what his market for them
was.
UphoIds WiIIiams's Course.
II know little or nothing about Will
fams' explained O'Neill to reporter
for THE NEW YORK HERALD "fIc comes
TO my office and we go into no per-
sonaIities. He deals In arms and am
and men in that business do
not go around advertising. But / can
assure YOU that he does not nor does
lie have to entertain schemes OF selling
arms and ammunition to the enemies OF
countries with which the United states
Is on friendly terms"
Then O'Neill explained that he was or
the impression that the guns were new
and not reconstructed or salvaged.
"They were purchased by my client
from the manufacturers. l believe ne
said. "They represent an investment OF
n " he L
do not know the precise value. He had
them shipped 10 a storehouse In Hoboken
for perfectly obvious reasons. when
YOU have client who wants arms ana
he wants them quickly.
doesn't he? Well. Williams simply want
I'd them stored near the shipping point
Hobokcn.
"And the rest of his story is simple.
broke into his storehouse and
took his property. I have no idea who
aid the stealing nor have any right to
say that they were on their way to Ire
land"
The customs officials refused to make
any official statement regarding the
guns and their discovery. The Depart
,nent of Justice was similarly reticent.
Numerous wild stories concerning the
guns and their destination were to be
heard along the waterfront last night. |
One story had Il that Williams had re-
fused TO do business with representa-
lives OF the Sim F'ein and because of
that the latter had raided his storehouse
and had decided TO try to smuggle the
arms 10 Ireland under coal.
The United States Shipping Board did
rot wait until this morning to begin its |
Last night II was max
ing injuries And such inquiry as the
BOARD made produced the theory that
he guns were carried to the East Side
m launches and in rowboats and then
nois.ed over the side by somebody In
Dn the arrangement on deck.
II IL understood that they were put
board the East Side as engine sup
plies. At any rate curious member
N the crew--probabiy the man with the
,ockney accent-decided to use his
iAckknife on the burlap bags. The re-
suit was that he uncovered machine
gun dsmantled but unmistakable. and
decided II was up TO him to tell some
body about Il.
Until she pulled out for Norfolk last
night the Fast Side had been lying at
pier since April 10. She arrived Mt
that time from Bordeaux and Hayre.
She lost her crew twice since due 70 the
marine strike. but left last night with
= full complement of men. IL was said
,ast night at the pier there ls reason
TO believe that whoever placed the guns
r board the East Side lost courage later
because on Tuesday night two launches.
each carry five men. came alongside
her.
rnr 90 Board Freighter.