Captain Georg Schmitt, Hitlerite delegate to the United States for the purpose of coordinating the American Stahlhelm with the Stahlhelm of Germany, yesterday withstood a bombardment of questions fired by Assistant District Attorney William Prager.
After a half hour of intensive grilling the militant little envoy emerged from the grand jury room ruffled, press-shy, and stubbornly refusing to answer questions peppered at him by press representatives.
He was called to testify regarding his reported successorship to Heinz Spanknoebel, fugitive Nazi leader who is now reported hiding in the German Embassy at Montreal while federal authorities continue their search in various parts of the country.
Mrs. Maria Griebl, wife of Dr. I. T. Griebl, and hostess to Spanknoebel during his stay in New York, also testified.
Reversing her former decisions, Mrs. Griebl appeared before “a Jewish district attorney and Jewish court”, and she consented to swear on the Holy Bible, which she had previously earmarked as “being based on the old Jewish Testament.”
Last week Mrs. Griebl refused to testify before the grand jury, claiming that she would not be questioned by a “Jewish district attorney or judged by a Jewish grand jury”, because “neither would be tolerant or just in their conclusions”. She also refused to take her oath on the Holy Bible, claiming it was based on the old Jewish Testament.
Yesterday, however, following the advice of her counsel, Robert McGauley, who requested her to waive her constitutional rights, she submitted to questioning by Federal Attorney Medalie and the grand jury, one member of which is Jewish, and made no demands to be allowed to swear on the American flag.
Following the testimony, Mrs. Griebl ran through the line of newspapermen lining the hallway, dodged news photographers, and gained the stairway before cameras could be borught into focus. Mrs. Griebl is said to be of Jewish origin.
Miss Rose Fischer, serving maid in the Griebl home, who has previously testified before the grand jury, joined her mistress in their dash to the door.
Captain Schmitt, a half hour later, emerged from the grand jury room surrounded by a large bodyguard of members of the League of Friends of New Germany, who had accompanied him to the federal building.
Looking neither to right nor left the Hitlerite representative plunged through press lines, stoutly refusing to respond to a barrage of questions which were flung at him from all sides. Clicking cameras found his face shielded from the flare of flashlights by his derby. Other efforts of picture men were frustrated when his bodyguard obstructed the line of vision.
He gained the elevator, the street, and his room at the Waldorf Astoria in quick succession, while a following court of photographers futilely begged him to pose.
DICKSTEIN MAY ASK DEPORTATION
Representative Samuel Dickstein, chairman of the House Committee on Immigration and conductor of an investigation into Nazi affairs in this country, yesterday declared that he would demand the deportation of Captain Schmitt if he found the latter disseminating Nazi propaganda.
“According to Captain Schmitt’s certificate of entry,” Mr. Dickstein said, “the gentleman is allowed to remain in the United States for sixty days for the purpose of conferring with George Mayer of 2426 North Paris Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let him step out of character just once, and I shall request cancellation of his permission to visit here.”
Mr. Dickstein said that in the event of Schmitt’s making a public appearance in the behalf of his government, he would demand his appearance before Ellis Island authorities.
STEUBEN SOCIETY PLANS UNREVEALED
While completion of plans for the celebration of German Day at Madison Square Garden on December 6, were awaited, spokesmen for the Steuben Society, sponsors of the affair, announced that plans were incomplete and would not be revealed for a few days.
In the meantime it is believed that Ambassador Hans Luther will be invited to address those taking part in the celebration, a situation which demands the display of the swastika emblem.
Pending definite decision on this phase of the program, Jewish leaders in New York are withholding protest against allowing the celebration to be held.
According to resolutions already agreed upon by various German Jewish vereins, Jews will take no part in occasions at which the swastika is displayed. It is reliably learned that the resolution will hold true for the projected German Day festivities.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
