New Britain herald., 1917-03-29
MADE BOMBS BUT
 DIDN'T KNOW IT
German Plotter Tells Of Working
 for Dr.. SCheele

New York. March 29.-Ernst Becker: one of the six alleged German plotters now on trial before Judge Van Fleet in the federal district court, admitted on the stand yesterday that he had helped to make about 16O in- cendiary bombs. The government contends that these bombs were meant for the cargo holds of ships plying between the United States and allied ports. and timed to explode whom the ships were at sea.
 Becker's testimony reflected upon Dr. scheele, the indicted chemist, who is fugitive from justice, and Earl Schmidt, chief engineer of the North German Lloyd liner Friedrich der Crosse. Schmidt is one of the six now on trial.
 Becker. through an interpreter, said he was 3S years old, that his home was in Germany, that he had family, and that he Is an electrician employed on the Friedrich der Crosse. He said he first met pr. Scheele in the spring of 1915 at his office in Clinton street, when he went to see him after schmidt had told him to go there to lind out . way to make "a little extra money" In great detail Becker told about the conversation he had with Dr. Scheele, in which he learned what he was to make and received 8 sketch of tho device. He said he got the lead pipe for the bomb shells from Dr. Scheele.
 ''where did you saw the piper"
 ''In the workshop on the deck of the Friedrich der Crosse, near the crews quarters"
 "When you first went to Scheele's place who first let you in to see him ?'
 ''I think von Kliest, but I'm not sure. was alone with Dr. scheele in the laboratory. one story up.'
 The von Kliest referred to is Charles von Kleist, an American citizen. and one of the defendants.
 On the second visit to the factory Becker said he talked to Scheele, who told him to come again next day to see if he should make more shells. He said he asked Chief Engineer Schmidt whether to go to see Dr. Scheele the second time. and that Schmidt told him he could go.
 On the second visit, the witness said, Dr. Scheele said he would like to have about 100 or 150 tubes like the samples.
 .'Sheele asked me when I could have them finished" said the witness. "I said I didn't know. I would have to try. I told him I'd have to have more lead. He asked me how much and I said. you know how much. l don't He then said he'd send me ten or twelve feet of the lead pipe and solder too."
 Becker said he, then went back to the ship and asked Schmidt 1T ne might make them.
 sSchmidt told me I might make them and the other engineers could help me, so they could be finished ouickly.' he testified. "He said l should keep track of how many l made and the expense"
 Little Financial Reward.
 The witness said he got $15 a month from the North German Lloyd and that he sent $15 a month to his wife and family and kept $1 for him- self.
 The court wanted to know how he got his clothes out of $1 month. E
 "I've had this suit seven years" re- piled the witness.
 Becker said Dr. Scheele never told him when he was making them, what the cases were for, and that no one else ever told him. He said Dr. Scheele told him on May II, 1915, to make no more cases because he had enough. He said the other engineers had made about 250 bomb cases up to that time.
 At the conclusion of Becker's direct examination a statement he made when arrested was read. In 1t he said that In each of the little wooden boxes, a satchel full of which he ad- mits having taken to Captain Woi- pert. Hamburg pier super were two incendiary bombs. He denied that he had told the police that he had heard of fires on various ships about ten or twelve days after he delivered the satchel to Captain Wolpert.
 After the statement had been read MT. Osborne. attorney for the govern ment showed Becker one of the bombs and Becker admitted that the shell was one of his own making.
 ''Do you know what a bomb is?" asked MT. Osborne.
 "Yes," Becker answered, cit Is like a Zeppelin drops some times"
 And you didn't know what the things you were making were bombs? ?" MT. Osborne asked.
 ''No, I did not.''
 Why didn't you try to find out then?"
 Because Germans are expected to do as they are told and not to ask questions"