New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Torpedo Co.
Foreman Held
For Treason
Employee of Bliss Works
Indicted by the
Grand Jury
Projectiles Turned
Into Boomerangs
Paul Hennig, Naturalized
Citizen Of German Origin,
Faces Death Penalty

stroy war vessels firing them was un-
covered, according to L. 5. District
Attorney France, of Brooklyn, with the
arrest and indictment for treason yes
terday of Paul Hennig, a naturalizel
German, for five years foreman in
the T.. W. Bliss torpedo works, Of South
Brooklyn.
Iiennig. the indictment charged,
maiciously mutilated delicate parts of
the steering apparatus of the torpc-
does, so that, in many cases, they would
turn in a wide circle and return 10
strike the vessel from which they wee
fired. Other torpedoe parts, not 50
badly defective, it is alleged, would
draw the fangs of the torpedoes by
altering their direction slightly, or by
making them uncomfortable.
Iennig, the first man in this district
TO be indicted for treason since the
beginning Of the war, was arraigned
before United States Judge Van Nech-
ten Veeder in Brooklyn. On his plea OF
not guilty he was held without bail
for arrangement next Wednesday, and
locked up in Raymond Street Jail. The
extreme penalty for treason is death.
In the discrtion Of the court this may
be minimized to not less than tve
wears Imprisonment and not less than
a $4,000 fine.
I'll I'll
Hennig's alleged acts are only part
of widespread conspiracy Of German
Secret Service agents, working in NUM-
tions plants. to destroy American war
ships. according 10 the officials. In
vestigation has also been made of the
activities OF Karl Paul Henrig. who
represents himself as a son of the man
under Indictment He has been ar
rested and interned at Ellis Island,
under suspicion of attempting mutlla-
ton of torpedo steering apparatus in
the Sperry gyroscope plant, OF BrooH-
Ign.
The younger Hennig, il is now. re-
ported. is not a son of the Bliss Tore
man. but German Secret Service
agent. In the guise Of Hennigs son, he
was employed at the Bliss plant. lie
quit his position mysteriously about
six months ago, and obtained employ
ment in the Sperry works.
After an investigation by Depart
ment Of Justice operatives, the Sperry
works were raided on September 20,
and many Germans, including young
"Hernig," were taken into custody ana
interned. Powerful influences were
brought to bear to free "Hennig" ana
it appeared as if they would be sue
cessful when the finding OF what ap-
peared 10 be a secret code IN MS nome
al 26t Sixty-ffth Street, Brooklyn,
CIinched the case against him, and he
was interned. He gave his age as
twenty.
IN spite Of the case against his son,
Hennir was retained at his important
most i'm the Bliss shops. Suspicion was
diverted from him for the time by ms
public bitter anti-Prusslan attitude. In
addition. on October :, 1916, he had De-
come a naturalized citizen.
Honnie was in charge of the gyro-
scope department, and supervised the
construction of gyro wheels, bearings
and gimbals, and the assembling OF the
con,pIeted horoscopes. The gyroscope
is the brain" of the torpedo, automat-
ically guiding AM directing its course
after It's dischargt from the torpedo
tube I'pon its perfect operation de-
pe1ds the accuracy Of the torpedo.
Governments Suspicious Aroused
Rcports OF the large number of Ger,
mans cmploved in the Bliss, Sperry and
-ther torpedo plants had led the De-
uartment Of Justice 10 organize close
,Votch over them. Lieutenant Francis
u O'Shea. L. :. n. was detailed to the
Bliss plant TO investigate defects oil
manufactured parts. Lieutenant O'Snea
is an Annapolis graduate, and Tor nine
ears was torpedo officer ABOARD the
L. :. s. Memphis.
Every torpedo on delivery Is accom-
panied By u box of extra parts Tor inc
ryro bearings, gyro wheels, etc In the
Ca air. rust frequently attacks the Vltai
parts. and tae extra parts are calleu
into rcquisition before the proJectii> Is
irod.
Uonnig's Job was 70 inspect and pass
an these extra parts. Only perfect
tarts we're supposed 10 be placed IN
.-Iass iars. Gl!ed with vasellne to Keep
Cg INST. Heretofore, i was customary
for government inspectors 70 count the
number of parts, seeing that they laI-
lied. without making hnal Inspection
Of quality.
This Lieutenant o'Shea proceeded
% 10. on November IS he received
from Hennir five jars containing parts
which ne carefully examined. what
he discovered confirmed his suspicious:
lie unscrewed the parts, and placed
them undsr microscopic examination.
he found that many OF the bearings
were filed with emery, which would
Grind them INTO uselessness. Others
we're cracked and scratched, some I'M
propcrly fitted, while still others
lacked the government stamp. The
gyro wheels. according 70 the indiet-
ment found against Hennig, were
found cracked ard mutilated.
Hennig Under Surveillance
From the day Of the discovery Hen
MIG was placed under surveillance oy
members of the Naval Intelligence and.
later. by deputies of the United States
Narshal's force. Yesterday he was
summoned 20 the Federal Building IN
brooklyn. and placed under arrest By
United states Marshal James Power.
United States Attorney Melville j.
France. Of Brooklyn. ye8terday issued
= statement which, after giving the
history OF ;he case, continue:
"It is believed that the action taken
in Hennig's case will break up any
IL Il Ia