New-York tribune., 1918-02-02
Hennig a Socialist
Who Fled Germany,
His Counsel Says
Lawyer, Asking Dismissal
Tries to Show Prisoner Is
Kaiser's Enemy

Paul Hcnng. former gyro expert of
tho Bliss torpedo plant in South
Brooklyn, was introduced yesterday to
the jury which is trying him for trca-
son as Socialist who had fled to this
country twelve years ago to escape
the wrath Of the imperial German
government. The inference was that
a prolctarian such as he would not
derangc torpedo parts, as charged in
the indictment, to help the Kaiser
against the United States.
Hennig was also declared TO be a
friend and partisan Of Karl Licb-
knccht, the Socialist leader. now in
prison. the inventor Of superior type
Of gyroscopic steering gear for tor
pcdoes, which he had offered to the
United States navy free Of charge, and
the man who probably had done most
to develop the aerial torpedo devised
by Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiskc.
These things his counsel, Arthur
Wing, said would be proved in the
course Of testimony for the defence,
which began yesterday afternoon, after
Judge Thomas !. Chatiield, Of the Fed
cral District Court Of Brooklyn, had
denied motions for the dismissal Of
the charges Mr.. Wing sought to have
the case taken from the hands of the
jury on the ground that the govern
mcnt had failed to prove an overt act
by the testimony of two witnesses, as
required by the Constitution of the
United States in treason cases, but
Judge Chatfeld denied the motions,
saying that the jury would be called
upon to decide question OF fact after
he had delievercd charge based upon
what the case showed when completed.
Calls Hennig Pro-Gcrman
The motions for dismissal followed
the testimony Of Charles Harrigan,
who, despite his Celtic name, speaks
with German accent. Harrigan has
been employed as an American Secret
Service agent since his return from
Germany, where his mother now lives
and where, he said, ho has two step
brothers in the German army. lie was
borp in New York nineteen wears ayo
and testified that he was sent to the
Bliss plant to obtain work and watch
Hcnnig.
Among other things. he said hc
heard Hennig say: "American soldiers
arc poor fighters, and if they 70 TO
the front line in white collars and
brown shoes they will get terrible
beating" Another remark he attrib
uted TO Hennig was:
I'VE Germans will stick TO tho
Fatherland as long as we live
Hennlg, Mr.. Wing said in his OPEN
ing address TO the jury, was born in
Lelpsig, Germany, June 7, 1874. At
eighteen, alter serving an apprentice
ship as an optician and instrument
maker. he enlistcI in the German
naval torpedo plaut at Kiel, but Was
discharged soon afterward on account
OF i'll health
Then" said Mr.. Wing, che rot into
as q follower Of Liebknecht.
who was a friend Ct his father He
was elected an alderman of Leipsig.
and on May l. 1906 participated in -
Socialist meeting there, makine q q
speech which aroused the ire of the
government. He escaped to HAMBURG
and then fed to America. landing soma
weeks later"
Son Followed Hennig Here
Karl Hennis, his son, came to this
country a few years ago, after his
father had married again, and went to
work with him in the Bliss plant
Government witnesses have testified
that Karl Hennig operated gyro test
ing table. which Was manipulated so
that defective machines passed per
feet tests. But Mr.. Wing contended
that Paul Hennig had not been con-
nected by evidence with this, even if
1t had been proved. Karl Hennir is
now among the enemy aliens interned
at Ellis Island.
The trouble was that Hennig wa,
undiplomatic,' Mr.. Wing asserted. "He
quarrelled with government in
spectors."