Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-14
POLICE FRUSTRATE
GERMAN BOMB PLOT
Fritz KoIb and Others Arrested
in Hoboken.
INTERNAL MACHINES FOUND
Prisoner Alleged to Have Been impli-
Gated in Explosions at Munitions
Works-President Be-
lieVed Tarae..

Hoboken, n. j., March With the
arrest here on Monday of Fritz kolb.
a German reservist, the authorities ex-
pressed the belief that they had frus-
trated a well-deyeloped plot to aid
Germany by blowing up munition
plants in this country engaged in turn
ing out contracts for the entente allies.
The police said they found in K0lb's
rooms two bombs which, according 70
rumors that had reached them. We're
10 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.
Can early dispatch said that Kolb
has confessed to the police that he in
tended sending the bombs TO Presiden-
Wilson,
The police also said they had come
into possession Of Information which
might help them in solving the Black
Tom On. j. explosion and the destrue-
ton Of the Kiugsland IN j. plant Of
the Canadian Car and Foundry com
pany, in which large munition sup
plies for the entes.e allies were blown
up.
-Four other men mere questioned by
the authorities Chief of Police Hayes
of this city said they were friends of
kot. tut he was convi reed they knew
nothing of the alleged plot.
I'VE 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"
kolb was found in small hotel,
opposite the piers Of the Hamburg
American line. His room. it was as
certained, hore the appearance Of hay-
ing been used as laboratory
Beside the two bombs, the police
said they found brass and copper
tubing resembling that used in ships
The two bombs were made Of steel
pipe, and were loaded with plcrlc acid.
aud are now in the hands Of the bu-
reau of combusubles in New York for
analysis
kolb denied thar 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 Karl. whom he met in
a saloon. he declared he did not know
The mans present Whereabouts.
k0lb was born in Cologne, Germany,
he said, and came 10 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
druggist and had sought Il position as
Ii wegher in chemical houses. Kolb
gave his age as thirty-three Valuable
papers found in his room were conhs-
Gated.
Under a washstand In Kolbs room
the police found his explosive
cache
The names of several confederates
are alleged to be in the possession of
the authorities, and reports We're that
ramitieauons of the plot We're TO include
the destruction Of oil works at Tam
pico, Mex, and Remington Arms works
ia Hoboken. Agents of the department
of justice are coIaiug 10 Habosen to
take part in the examination OF the al
legged plotter.