Evening journal., 1917-03-19
informed SAILOR
IS killed BY Gas
Secret Service Investigates
Presence of Fink and
Knoch in City
CAME FROM HOBOKEN
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO

oscar FINK, aged 81 years, VINO nao (
been an informed German sailor, was
asphyxiated by Illuminating gas, and
wilhelm Knoch, aged % years. an
other sailor whose vessel is now in.
termed in this country, had narrow
escape from a like fate at the home
OF Michael Haitsch. No. 623 West Sec
ond street, yesterday morning Knoch
was revived by the police patrol crew
with lungmotor and after further
treatment at the Delaware Hospital,
he was held under $500 bail as a wit
ness at the coroner's inquest to be
held tonight,
Announcement that the two men
were interned sailors was made to-
day by Mrs. Haitsch, who said that
| her husband had known the men for
bout two weeks they being employed
at the Harlan & Holllngsworth Cor
pOration plant. According to Mrs.
! Haitsch. the men came here from
( Hoboken, n. j., after their vessels
were interned and had been given a
room at the Haitsch home on Satur-
day because they had no place to 80
and were strangers in a strange coun-
try. For this reason, Haitsch went on
Knochs bail he said
The police department. following the
reporting Of the case yesterday,
searched the room occupied by the
men and removed all their belongings
to the coroners office
Numerous letters written in Ger
can money, post card panoramic views
Of Atlantic seacoast cities and consid-
cradle tools, such as used by machln-
lists. The fact that the men had Mex
lean money causes speculation as 70
whether they had been in Mexico.
10 was announced that the local de-
tective squad would have these letters
translated today to ascertain just what
information they contain
! Haitsch about o'clock yesterday
morning detected an odor of gas and
he traced this TO the room Occup ed
by the two men AS he opened the
door. he saw the bodies OF the two
men In bed Gas was pouring from
an open let connected with a stove
which was unlightud. DR.. J. Harvey
d Spruance was called and the police
were nOIlutQ. Oulttl Ddulutl AoiAlh4N
responded with a lung'motor and
I through its use Knoch was saved
= Fink could not be revived and was
? declared dead at the Delaware Hos
ptal.
/ Government officials today, on hear.
d ing OF the release Of Knoch before h'
= could be questioned as to his com
e panion, at once notified tho Depart
- ment OF Justice offices in Philadelphia
+ and secret service men were assignee
. to the case TO make thorough IN
d vestigation. Knoch is unable to spea
r English, he says
r Fink was man Of robust build. III
5, arms are tattooed with figures per
<, tanning to ships.
The police are trying to determih
whether these two men correspond u
OF have any connection with two mel
said recently to have been in the post
office corridor. They were speaking Il
= German. but ere overheard by sol
/, der who understands the Language
According TO the soldier one of the mel
told the other that he had enough
"stuff TO blow up the whole d
d building He carefully. picked AM
II handled a suitcase while he spoke. In
y soldier went cut to find a pohcemel
,e hut when he returned the two stfng
, ers had disappeared.