Evening star., 1922-06-07

must come to conclusion that the
defendants are guilty of gross in
fraction of the laws of this state-viz..
unlawful assumption Of state author
penal code l propose that they be
given the maximum sentence author
ized-ie., sixteen months for Naef and
nine months for thinner"
DIR. Hugo Schrag, the defense
counsel retained for Naef and Zim-
mer by Paris Post, No. l, American
Legion. Paris. France. then presented
his plea for the defense, in which he
stated that based upon the evidence
submitted by the witnesses for the
defense to the effect that Naef and
thinner were equipped with proper
papers for entry into unoccupied Ger
many. and the fact that thinner was
seen running in the direction of the
police station. these men could not
be 'judicially found guilty of the Of
fense OF unlawful assumption OF state
authority. He therefore pleaded for
the acquittal OF Naef and thinner or
the imposition of the minimum SEN
tence. DR.. Schrag's plea was received
with boisterous Kissing by the audi
cnce, and from all sides the shout,
Dirty traitor" could be heard.
The court then adjourned to deliber-
ate on the verdict, and after two hours
resumed their seats.
The audience was feverishly await
ing the announcement of the verdicr
of the court. Naef and his associates
calmly and with an Indifferent smile
listened to the president of the court.
who now. in a tone that bespoke of
satisfaction and evident arrogance.
began to announce the verdict and
sentence:
"Sergt Charles o. Naef of the
American Army on the Rhine: This
court, after careful and judicial con-
sideration Of the evidence submitted
during the trial. finds you guilty of
the offense of unlawful assumption
Of state authority. and in view of the
seriousness of the offense has decided
to impose the maximum sentence of
nineteen months confinement at hard
labor. confinement to be served at the
state workhouse.
"SeTgt. Frank thinner of the Amer
lean army on the Rhine: The court
has seen fit to impose upon you a
sentence of nine months, this in view
of the fact that you did not actually
take part in the hold-up at Eber-
bach"
The three Germans who had accom-
panied the two detectives were SEN
fenced to three months each.
1t seldom occurs that upon sentenc-
ing an offender the crowd witnessing
trial would cheer the announcement
of the court. but in this case the
house broke out into n uproar of ap-
plause, cheering and wholeheartedly
approving the courts action. Above
all, Bergdoll and his party expressed
their thorough satisfaction by throw
ing their hats up into the air. and one
man even was bold enough to ap-
proach us by saying: You'd better
tell your American friends to keep
their hands off Bergdoll as long as he
remains in Germany. for they might
mot pof wit oc
these birds did
After we had shaken hands with
cur American colleagues. and praised
them for the courage and sang-froid
maintained during the entire trial,
and given them assurances that We
would do everything possible to in
duce the German government to effect
their amnesty and release from con-
tinement; we made preparations to
leave Mosbach on the next train.
Never in my life was I more anxious
to leave a town as was the case at
Mosbach. and l would advise any
American who should contemplate
touring that part OF Germany not TO
do so if he wishes to be unmolested
and avoid being made the object of
all sorts of insults.
Sergeants Finally Released.
The result of the trial was imme-
diately telegraphed to Paris Post, No.
1. American Legion. Paris. France.
which in turn cabled to national
headquarters in America. Steps were
undertaken by the latter with the
State Department to demand the i'm
mediate release of Naef and thinner
from the German government. After
strong representations had been made
to the foreign office in Berlin, the
state authorities of Baden finally
agreed to release them upon the con-
dition that the American government
promised speedy and aggregate
settlement of the claim made by the
injured German girl whose hand had
suffered semi-total disability
This promise was made and about
two weeks after the trial Naef and
ZImmer. under the protection of a
dozen state policemen. were escorted
to Ludwigshaven on the Rhine, where
they were met by a delegation of
members of the American Army of
occupation, who accompanied them
back to Coblenz. There they were
met by hundreds of khaki-clad
Yankees, representatives of the Amer
A @S1a0sAsos -,