The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-23
ShackIed Hand and Foot, Des- perate Men Taken From Steamer at New Orleans and Rushed to Jail, Officials De- Clining to Make Any State- ment
By Associated Press

who classified themselves as seamen, but whom it was indicated through statements of Capt. J. H. B. Van Weel- dern of the New York and Cuba line freighter Nashville and implications of department of justice officials might be wanted in New York in con- nection with the investigation of the Wall Street bomb plot of September 16, last.
 shackled hand and foot. the mon were taken from the steamer Rush vile today, hustled to the parish pris- on. booked under the following names: Philip Bender. Lionel Kuebreezuff. Ru- dolph Dorsh, Hans Randin and Henrik Lipan. then held incommunicado.s
 After Captain van Weeldern related the manner in which the men were captured. and the difficulties encoun- tered In moving from Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans. he. too, became un> communicative, and tonight would make no further statements. Depart ment of justice officials said they were | awaiting lnstructionS. i..
 TREATED AS DESPERATE
 Last Sunday when the Nashville was approaching this port, the master wirelessed the department of justice requesting that they care for five consular prisoners" Elaborate prep arations were made for handling the captives, and they were treated as desperate men from the time federar officers took them over from the ship guard under which they were in charge.
 Orders issued by the master of the Nashville were that no member of the crew should discuss the priscnerswith- outsiders under penalty of salary de- auctions. The captain, however, re- lated the circumstances leading up to his acceptance of the men as involun- tary passengers.
 Late last month, according to Cap- tain Weeldern, the United States ship Iping board steamship City of Alton. then nearing Rio de Janeiro, received a wireless message, presumably from officials of the United Sta.es govern-l rent requesting the arrest of the five men. A fight started and, accordIpa Ito Captain Weeldern. it was with. ex- trcme difficulty that the men were subdued, placed in irons and taken to Rio de Janeiro. where they were im- Iprisoned. ..
 WANTED IN NEW YORK
 They were to be shipped to New York, where they were wanted. The American vice consul at Rio de Janei- TO, according to Captain van Weeldern requested the Munson line steamer Yoro to take the quintet to New York. Still guarded, the men were placed aboard the Yoro and in some manner, according to the Nashville captain, started furious fight. The Yoro's master returned them to. the Rio de Jar eiro Jail
 | About that time, the Nashville came in to load coffee for New Orleans. Vice Consul Thomas managed to persuade Captain van Weeldern to attempt Transportation of the prisoners. "We accepted and here they are.' the skip. | per concluded. 'f- The prisoners, apparently between 25 and 35 years of age. were said to be l for the most part well educated, somo speaking several Languages . The officers of the Nashville spent the day and part of tonight in The of- fices of the department of justice. No indication was given as to when the prisoners would be taken to New York. orders apparently being awaited T. noon newspaper who managed .o talk to one of the men, and was able to peer through some of the baggage be- fore he was excluded from the parish prison, no one outside of federal offi- sials has talked with the men.
 MUTINY IS CHARGED Washington. March 22.--Investiga- tion of the five men landed in shains today at New Orleans from the freight CT Nashville has, as yet failed to un. cover any evidence connecting them with the New, York bomb explosion of last September. 1t was stated tonight by William J Flynn, chief af the bu- reau of investigation of the depart ment of justice. Mir. Flynn added. however, that the investigation was being continued.
 The men are charged specifically with mutiny on the high seas, Mr. Flynn explained. adding that theS would be tried in the federal court ov New York.
 Other officials of the bureau after receipt of reports from New Orleans. also expressed the opinion that ,nutiny was the cause of the mems arrest.
 The detention of the five men was reported to the department only 10 days ago, Mir FlyBn stated adding that all reports to Washington had made it appear that mutiny was the reason for their being taken into GUS. tody. The department however. 1t waa indicated. was not overlooking any possibility that, all or some of the men, might have been connected with the bomb explosion.
 Shipping board officials said they had received no reports of mutiny on board the City of Alton. on which the men shipped as seamen. It wav explained, however. that such matter would be handled by the New York of flee of the board before a final re- port was made to Washington.
 As the investigation proceeded to- night. department of justice officials here said they doubted If the men held at New Orleans had been in any way connected with -the Wall street bomb explosion.
 Their understanding was. they added. that 1t was plain case of mu. tiny, and, If SO, the men would have to be tried at New Orleans, which was the first port of entry.
 If the charges involve only mutiny. they said. there would be no reason to take the men to New York. BONZAN0 IS To BE
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