The New York herald., 1922-06-19
man SEIZEDONLINER.
CALLS ARREST PLOT
CheesbOurg Blames 'Vindic-
tive Wife and Ku Klux
for His Plight.
is DIVORCE DEFENDANT
Says Money He Is Accused
of Stealing Already Be-
lOnged to Him.
CLAIMS MUCH WEALTH
California Sheriff Who May
Come for Him Is Klan Mem
ber, He Declares.
CLAIMS MUCH WEALTH

A vindictive wife and the antagonism
of the Ku Klux Klan are blamed by
William b. Cheesbourg of Taft, CAL,
who was summarily removed from the
Majestic Saturday after the White
Star liner was well down the bay, for
his present confinement in Jefferson
Market Jail.
His dress yesterday was indicative
Of TIE last minute manner in which
he had been seized by the authorities.
He wore snuff colored suit and cap,
soft, silk shirt to match and had on
even his white yachting shoes. Dis
kind that often gets into Jefferson
Market lookup.
He displayed his disappointment over
the affair by sobbing once during an in
terview he gave reporter for THE
NEW YORK HERALD. He characterized
abandonment upon which he had been
arrested as put up game"
Cheesbourg also took something Of the
edge off the story told of the manner
in which he had been found by Detec-
tives Hooks and Callahan. He swore
that he~wasn't found hiding in a state
room, but was located, on the other
hand, when he and three friends entered
the dining room to book a table for
the voyage.
Served in German Navy.
He was going abroad to visit several
countries OF Continental Europe to see
relatives. He was born in Germany,
he said, and served as an officer in the
German navy many years before the
late war. He had all his passports in
his pockets as well as $2,500. which
Magistrate Simpson refused to accept as
bail pending further advices from the
Western authorities.
In denying the charges wired to this
city by the police of Bakersfield county
he asked If it were grand larceny to take
his own money for trip to Europe, and
abandonment to leave wife and two
children in a large and comfortable
home with means to last them for
year.
IT'S my wife's way of trying to break
me-" he said, with much emotion. "She
and this latest move is her way of
trying TO bring complete ruin down
upon me. She seems to have been sue
cessful so far"
He said that his wife. who was Miss
Marie Therera Wegis, was a daughter
of one of the large ranch owners of
southern California. She was gradu-
ated from the University of Southern
California, he said. and added that she
20 tAv, lorx
Her object in causing me this
trouble, he continued, "is to get money
from me. Her family has large land
holdings, but no cash capital But |
have numerous real estate holdings in
and about Taft, chief among which is
large garage"
The man who was transferred so
speedily from the luxuries of the Ma
jestic to the discomforts of Jail ex-
planned that his opposition to the Ku
Klux Klan in his city had turned many
public officers against him.
Cheesbourg said he had formed an
organization to fight the society of white
rnbed nightriders and had made efforts
TO have all its members who held pub
lie Office removed. The Sheriff OF Bak-
ersfield county. ID. II. Newall. he said,
was a Ku Klux Klan member, and he
said it was he who would probably
y
fornia. He admitted. however that he
never actually had been prosecuted by
the ku Klux.
He regretted that he had permitted
the detectives to take him off the ship
and that he had not insisted that they
produce warrant for his arrest
Calls His Conscience Clear.
81 left home with a clear conscience"
he declared my friends knew 1 was
going and 1t was upon the advice Of
my lawyer that / decided to remain in
Europe until my wife had obtained nc,
divorce. 1 met many friends on my
way East on the Twentieth Century
Limited and again while staying here at
the Hotel Astor."
Cheesbourg carried a gold pen and
pencil in one of his coat pockets and
wore an unusually large display of jew
clry. Besides his various business opera.
tions, including oil. he said. he was a
collector of taxes in Taft, which IL
about 200 miles from Los Angeles
He will have n hearing Wednesday.
lie has refused to retain any lawyers
TO obtain his release from confinement
The circumstances of his capture were
unusual. He was not found by the de-
tectivcs until the Majestic was far
down the bay and they could not get
on ult sup until the p1Ot was dropped
off Scotland Lightship. They left the
liner in the pilots boat.
Telegrams received from the Bakers
field authorities, according to the police,
stated that Chcesbourg until a year ago
was actively ide.ltified with the Cali
fornia Ku Klux Klan and was then ex-
PEELED from membership in that body.
The telegram further stated. the police
said, that Cheesbourg took part In or
ssa .tRts4 - -. a
ku Klux KIan.
Cheesbourg said he expected his
warm personal friend" +. A. Mus chen
helm. president of the Hotel Astor Cor
pcration. to handl. his case and have
him released on bail, but Mr. Nfuschcn-
helm said: you can state that am not
acquainted with and have never met any
William 3. Cheesbough of Taft or Bakers
field. Cal. or of any other address. You
can also say for me that am not going
- be involved In this mans case"