The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-03-08
n. ]. POLICE HALT
GERMAN BOMB PLOT
Fritz KoIb and Others Arrested
: in Hoboken.
INTERNAL MACHINES FOUND
Prisoner Alleged to Have Been lmpil.
Gated In Explosions at Munitions
Works-Preslden Be-
aE lieved Target. e..

Hoboken, n. j.. March 6.-With the
arrest here of Fritz Kolb, a German
reservist, the authorities expressed the
belief that they had frustrated we'll
developed plot to aid Germany by
blowing up munftion plants in this
country engaged In turning out con-
tracts for the entente allies.
The police said they found in Kolb's
room two bombs, which, according to
rumors that had reached them, were
to be sent to President Wilson.
After a preliminary investigation,
however, they announced themselves
as convinced that the plans of the
alleged plotters had to do entirely
with destroying war supplies, and that
NO attack on the presidents life was
contemplated.
Gan early dispatch said that Kolb
had confessed to the police that he in
tended sending the bombs to President
Wilson) a
May Solve Big Explosions.
The police also said they had come
into possession of information which
might help them in solving the Black
Tom IN. J.) explosion and the destruc-
ton of the Kingsland On. j. plant of
the Canadian Car and Foundry COM
pany, in which large munition sup
plies for the entente allies were blown
up. ..s-s
Four other men were questioned by
the authorities. Chief of Police Hayes
of this city said they were friends OF
Kolb but he was convinced they knew
nothing of the alleged plot.
"We are following leads which may
result in additional arrests at any
time" Chief Hayes declared. I'VE are
cooperating with the New York police
and the neutrality squad of the col
lector of the port of New York. All
of us have been working on this for
several weeks"
Bombs Made of Steel Pipe.
Kolb was found in small hotel,
opposite the piers of the Hamburg
American line. His room, it was as
serted, bore the appearance of hay
ling been used as a laboratory.
said they found brass and copper
tubing resembling that used in ships.
The two bombs were made of steel
pipe, and were loaded with picric acid,
and are now in the hands of the bu-
reau of combustibles in New York for
analysis.
Bombs Made in Room.
Kolb denied that he had anything
to do with making the bombs, but said.
according to the police, that his room
was used for that purpose by man he
knew only as Kari" whom he met in
IA saloon. He declared he did not know
the mans present whereabouts.
Kolb was born in Cologne, Germany
he said and came to this country
shortly after the war began, working
his way on a Standard Oil steamer. He
also made several trips between this
country and Mexico, he said. but not
recently. He admitted that he was q
druggist and had sought position as
weigher in chemical huases. Kolh
gave his age as thirty-three. Valuable
papers found in his room were c0ntis.
Gated.
= Under q washstand in KOlb's room
the police found his =" explosive
"cache."
= The names of several confederates
are alleged to be in the possession Of
the authorities, and reports were thai
qualifications of the plot were to include
the destruction of oil works at Tam.
pico, Mex, and Remington Arms works
in Hoboken. Agents of the department
of justice are coming to Heboken -
take part in the examination of the N.
legged plotter.