New Britain herald., 1915-11-27
CROWLEY SUSPECTED OF MANY 0UTRAGES
Man Held in San Francisco Was
 German AttaChe

San Francisco, Nov. 27.-Agents of the department of justice engaged in the countrywide investigation of mu- milton plant explosions and other plots designed to hold up war contracts for the allies, hold Charles c. Crowley a former detective, on a charge of con- spiracy.
 Crowley was recently in the em- ploy of the German consulate here Franz Bopp, consul general, said last night that he knew the man and that he had at various times given him work to do.
 The nature of the work according to J. P. O'Brien, attorney for Crow ley, was said to be that of an inves- tigator. O'Brien denied that his client had any connection with dynamiting operations.
 4 The government agents believe that through the arrest they will secure evidence which will be of value to the authorities in the East who are in charge of the prosecutions of Robert Fay and his associates.
 Evidence Not Public.
 The full evidence against Crowley was not made public, but it became known that the government agents have been working for several months led to the arrest in New Jersey Of Fay and the men indicted with him in connection with charges of having attempted to prevent shipments from being made to the countries at war with Germany.
 In the specific complaint which was filed with United States Commission CT, Francis Krull, Crowley is charged with having supplied money to fur ther the destruction of ships and docks by fire and dynamite. It is stated that he sent three money or ders, totaling $350, to a man named Lewis J. Smith at Tacoma, Washing ton.
 Crowley and Smith, according to the affidavit of the federal agents, took employment with the Hercules Powder company here last May fer the purpose of obtaining information about the shipments of explosives.
 On May 30 fifteen tons of dynamite on board barge moored to buoy in Seattle Harbor, Washington, was ex- ploded, causing damage to shipping
 
 estimated at $300,O0O. The ammuni- tion which had been sent from here was consigned for the Russian army and held for shipment to Vladivostok The charge of conspiracy is supposed to be in connection with this Crowley Questioned. United States Attorney John w. Preston, who is in charge of the prep aration of the evidence for the grand jury in connection with the munition plant conspiracies, questioned Crow ley, but the government officials de- clined to make any statement as to information they obtained from him, The refusal of the authorities to di- vulge any more than was necessary to hold him was due to a communica- tion from A. Bruce Bielaski, chief of the bureau of investigation, who, with Chief Flynn of the secret service, is conducting the investigation into the details of the Fay plot in New York and other charges along a similar line.
 Further Arrests.
 Further arrests in connection with the investigation now under way are expected in a short time, and it is likely that the authorities will come into considerable information through 1 confessions from one or more of those under surveillance. Crowley was special agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad company for twenty years. He was chief of the special agents for six months and then joined the staff of the local county prosecutor. He is fifty seven years old and lives with his wife and two children. His bail was fixed at | $5,000.
 The authorities have not yet arrest l ca smith, but it is understood depart ment of justice agents know his whereabouts. .... ..-.-.