The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-19
ARMS MAKERS
FOR
SHIPPING GUNS
Col. Marcellus H. Thompson,
Son-in-law of Ambassador
Harvey, and Seven Others
Indicted.
IRISH AID is CHARGED
CBy Associated Press)

TRENTON. n. j., June 19-CoL
Marcellus H. Thompson, vice presi-
dent and active head of the Auto
Ordnance company of New York, has
been indicted by the federal grand
jury here on charge of conspiracy to
ship arms to Ireland in violation of
the neutrality laws. The announce
ment was made today by Assistant
United States District Attorney Thorn
as V. Arrowsmith.
Indictments also have been return
ed against the Auto-Ordnance corr
pany and seven other individuals on
| the same charge, as the result of the
seizure at Hoboken last June of the
| Cosmopolitan line freighter, East
| Side, in the coal bunkers of which
were found 495 machine guns. The
guns were alleged to have been des-
tined for use by the Sim Fein in
Ireland
The other individuals indicted are:
! Frank Williams, alias Lawrence De
Lacy, alias Lawrence Pierce, who IS
alleged to have paid for the shipment
of guns, and his brother, Fred VII
liams, alias Edward De Lacy. who
is alleged to have been implicated in
the purchase of guns. Both are now
believed to be in Ireland.
George Gordon Rorke, a salesman Of
Washington, who is alleged to have
placed an order for the guns with
the auto-ordnance company.
Frank ]. Merkling, secretary of the
IAuto-Ordnance company.
Frank B. Ochsenciter. of New York
nda Washington. who is accused of
lplacing the first order for some OF
1.-THE guns with the Auto-Ordnance com
ipany
John Culhane. a truckman, of New
York. who is alleged to have carted
the guns from the American Express
company in New York to his store
| house in the Bronx for Frank Viii
liams
A Mr. Brophy, whose first name ia
unknown to the federal authorities.
: who is alleged to have carted the ship
, ment from Culhanes storehouse to
, the East Side.
The guns were manufactured by the
Colt Patent Arms company of Hart.
: ford. Conn, and are alleged to have
been sold by the AutoOrdnance com
company. Their inventor is said to
: General John T. Thompson. father OF
} Col. Thompson. The latter is a SON
: in-law of Col. George Harvey. Amer
: ican ambassador to Great Britain.
: There was considerable mystery
, about the guns after their seizure and
: an investigation was started by the
United States Shipping board and the
, department of justice. Frank vii
} liams claimed ownership of the gum
after the seizure. He declared he had
purchased number of guns through
I the Auto-Ordnance company and had
stored them in a warehouse He said
/, they had been stolen from the ware
2 house and asserted he did not know
g how they got on the ship
/ Rorke later was arrested and re
t leased on $4,000 bail, and is said Il
have admitted that he sold the gum
to a group of strange men.
The indictments were returned by
the January federal grand jury which
concluded its work in April Informa
: ton concerning the indictments wa.
- withheld, it was indicated, because o
the inability to reach some of thoss
!. indicted
d The technical indictment agains
!, the men as body charged them wit
: conspiracy to set on foot and provids
= the means for military enterprise I,
a foreign prince.
: NEWARK. y. J., June 19-Col. Mar
!, cellus H. Thompson, indicted on /;
u charge of conspiracy to ship arms II
- Ireland in violation of the neutralit,
laws, today pleaded not guilty before
= Judge Belstad. A plea of not guilt!
Y to a similar indictment was made b,
z the AutO-O Ordnance comDanv Georgi
Gordon Work, a salesman Of Washing
ton, and Frank Ochsenriter of New
York and Washington, accused in al
y indictment as having placed the orde
II for the guns, also pleaded not guilty