The New York herald., 1921-09-27
595 GUNS FOR irish
TRACED TO4N PLOT;
AGENT SEIZED HERE
G. G. ROrke of Washington
Held in $4,000 in Plan
to Aid Revolt.
ARMS TAKEN OFF SHIP
Shipment Prevented as the
East Side Was to Sail
on June Is.
OTHER ARRESTS AWAITED
Claimant Of Weapons and En-
gineer Missing Since Vio-
lation Of Neutrality.
OTHER ARRESTS AWAITED

George Gordon Rorke, whose ad-
dress was given as 3420 Sixteenth
street N. w., Washington. was ar
rested last night in the lobby of the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. He was
charged with having authorized the
purchase Of the sos Thompson sub
machine guns seized on board the
Cosmopolitan freighter East Side on
June Is, twelve hours before that
vessel sailed from Hoboken for Ire
land. The arrest was made by a
Department Of Justice agent, Ander-
son. at the direction of Attorney-Gen.
eral Daugherty, who sent instruc-
tions to William Hayward, United
States Attorney.
Rorke and three other men not
yet arrested have been In a con-
spiracy to furnish arms and ammuni-
tion to be used against the British
by the Irish, and also to instruct
the Irish in the use Of the weapons,
1t is charged.
Information that four men. two Of
whom are known to the Washing
ton authorities. had authorized the
purchase of the guns was obtained
through the Washington representa-
tive of the Auto Ordnance Company,
which has Offices at 3O2 Broadway.
Claimant OF Gums Missing.
At the time of the seizure of the
guns man giving the name of Franl,
Williams. who said he was a con-
tractor with offices at 100 West Forty
third street. appeared before Recorder
Adolf G. Carston Of Hoboken and as-
serted he was the owner of the
weapons. He described 600 guns and
declared they had been stolen from
him on June II, four days before the
seizure. Williams refused to answer
questions at n hearing and acted mys-
teriously. He later disappeared 1t
was learned last night.
Tho complaint -tclegraphed here by
Attorney-Gtncral Daugherty, and pre-
aented to the United Sta-es Commia-
sioner. Samuel NJ. Hitchcock. by Max
well S. Mattuck. Assistant United States
Attorney. accused Rorke of violating
sections 13 and 81 of the Federal
criminal code. Apart from charging
that the defendant and three other per-
sons had engaged in conspiracy It
said Rorke purchased seven machine
guns from the Auto Ordnance Company
o: New York In 1919.
Federal officials investigating the
seizure OF the arms have unearthed con-
siderable more evidence that band has
been buying and shipping arms to ire
land for the last two years Mr. Mat
tuck said he was not at liberty to give
out any information. but hoped TO re-
ceive directions from the Attorney Gen.
era. r. egardinG the arraignment of Rorke
before Mr.. Hitchcock this morning. MIR.
NJ lttuct cxrects the arrest Of at least
one other defendant soor.
Rorke was held in 5000 bonds re-
turnab.c this morning.
The arrest OF Rorisa IL the result OF
nearly three months Of investigation by
the Department OF Justice officials op-
office The Investigation has taken in
nearly all points along the Atlantic
coast II was learned. and considerable
valuable information has been obtained.
Mystery In Gum Cargo.
The discovery and seizure OF the
weapons last June proved sensational.
williams could not explain how the
guns reached the frcighter. but IL was
learned by the Federal officers that
they were taken to the side of the ship
at Pier . In small launches and snug
gIcd aboard in sacks. The guns were
knocked down and bore the identifying
plate Colt Patent. 1921 Model. As
Calibrc.' A large case OF ammunition
also was found in the bunkers.
At his arrest RorlSe showed II sub
ppna directing him TO appear before the
Federal Grand Jury at Trenton as a
Government witness In connection with
the Investigation into the seizure OF the
guns. He Is ordered to appear before
the Grand Jury tomorrow.
Rorkc IL 20 and married. He said he
had lived in Washington for severn /
years. He told Mr.. Mattuck he was not
In business except as commission mer-
chant in guns.
In Il despatch from Washington It
was stated that Mrs. Rorke had admitted
she had been notified OF her husba nd s
arrest. She refused to comment.
Attorney-Gencral Daughcrty could not
be reached in Washington last night. but
Mr. Mattuck believes further tclcgraphic
orders win be fled by Mr.. Dalgherty