The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective LeagueHough, Emerson
History
The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective League
Hough, Emerson
American Protective League; Propaganda, German; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- United States
Talks between these three gentlemen were going on in fine shape at
the time the Armistice was signed. As a matter of fact, Otto B—— is
still flagging trains at the old railroad crossing, and the League is
recommending his prosecution and the revocation of his citizenship,
because it certainly had proof of his unfitness to live in the United
States. It hardly seems necessary to add that “Schultz” was an A. P. L.
operative also. His “credentials” were made in the United States and
not in Germany, having been copied from those captured on a real agent
of the Kaiser.
There was another near-case, one which almost became a real one, in
Northern New Jersey Division, which, at the first, looked like scores
that had preceded it and scores that followed it. It had to do with
one K——, reported rabid against America, although employed in doing
essential Government work. This might have been a spite case, or a case
of remarks made before we went into the war, or still more possibly
something said before the amended Espionage Act was passed. However,
member C-891 went out on the case to see what he could find about K——.
The latter had a factory of his own, and when found, seemed to be
disposed to talk. The operative speaks a perfect German, and has a
German look. The two got on handsomely. The operative was surprised to
find that K—— talked so freely and to a stranger. Another member of
the League, C-1378, also of German parentage, went with C-891 a few
days later to visit K—— again. That gentleman was more bitter than
ever against America. He said, among other things, that if he heard
that President Wilson had been shot, he would be so glad that he would
celebrate it by getting too drunk to see. And there was very much more
talk of that nature.
A few days later, K—— had cause to regret his disposition to talk.
He was brought before a United States Commissioner on a warrant, and
spent a good night in jail before he could find bail. The next day, he
being a man of means, he engaged a lawyer. The Armistice ended these
activities, as it did so many others. The hearing was held on the
morning of November 7—the first news of the Armistice, later confirmed.
Since that time, A. P. L. of Northern New Jersey has heard nothing
about Mr. K——. With a couple million others, he has been allowed to
sink back to our citizenship—just as poisonous, just as unregenerate,
just as little fit to remain in this country. It was understood that D.
J. laid down a rule that testimony secured in conversations such as the
foregoing was not a basis of prosecution. Perhaps it would have been
better to wait until Mr. K—— had really shot somebody or blown up a
ship or so.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account