New-York tribune., 1918-03-31
Ex-Head of Curtiss Plant
at Hampstead Also
Arrested
Drawings Found
In Their Rooms
She Is Lydia White; He Is
Fred Arnoldi; Both
Caught in Newark

The discovery yesterday of drawings
and photographs of aeroplanes and
aeroplanc parts in rooms at 1897
Broad Street, Newark, n. j.. that had
been occupied by Fred Arnold, former
superintendent of the Curtis Engineer
ing Corporation plant in Hampstead,
Long Island, and Mrs. Lydia White, of
the same town, caused Federal officials
TO take an active interest in the pair,
who had been arrested on Thursday on a
charge preferred by Mrs. Whites hus-
band. After beng arraigned on the
charge on which they were arrested,
the couple were held in $4,000 bail
each by United States Commissioner
Matthews.
The two formed the apparent centre
of a mystery which has had Hampstead
agog for weeks, and one in which inter
est was revived following the recent
charges made by Senator Overman that
aeroplane parts in the Curtiss plants in
Buffalo were being lampered with to
such an extent that it had been neces-
sary to abandon the manufacturing
schedule and reexamine and retest
most of the parts that had been made.
Woman Defends Arnold
When questioned by officials yester-
day in Newark Mrs. White is said to
have admitted that her companion had
been the ostensible object Of suspicion.
She insisted, however, it was said, that
the "susplcion" was manufactured by
group of fellow workmen, who were
jealous of his rapid rise in the factory,
for the purpose Of branding him as a
nro-German and forcing him out.
She declared. it is said, that efforts
had been made by men connected with
the plant to force her to say that her
house in Hampstead had been the rem
devious Of spies. 1t was because of
this stealthy, concerted action, she
said, that Ainoldi had decided to leave
the place about montc ago, although
he was innocent of any wrong or evil
intent.
Arnold himself is reported to have
told a sim lar story, saying that he was
loyal American. His father was a
naturalizeG citizen Of German birth,
end his grandfather. he said was an
Italian. He is said to have accounted d
Tor the plans found in his room by
saying that they we're his own and the
basis of experimental work on which
he was engaged. According to the po-
lice of Newark Arnold and Mrs. White
went to Elizabeth. n. j., after leaving
Hampstead. aliG arnold there applied
Tor position with the Standard Air
craft Corr Grafton, which is said to be
engaged on contracts for the planes
tn
York and Washington.
Keen interest in the case was evinced
ty the Eeoerai officials, and every en-
eeavor Will be made to discover
whether. as the prisoners declare, per
sonal enemies haC taken ADVANTAGE OF
spy hys-erla to force Arnold out OF
Hampstead, or whether one or both OF
them actually have knowledge of some
such, widespread plot as was described
hy Senator Ovcrman.
Curtiss Plant at Standstill
The Curtiss plant at Hampstead
winch is said 70 have been turning out
/. complete machine every day, is now
at stardstil!, according to reports
current N the town yesterday 1t wa:
said tnat manufacturing work practi
caiiy had been stopped in order tc
make rigid INSPECTIONS of the work al
ready done. Special guards are posted
at every entrance to the buildings. anf
no one : permitted to enter excep
when giving satisfactory explanation
OF his presence. Such receive passes
"nlch must DC returned when the,
go out.
Local gossip long has been busy will
tne mouse on Moore Street, Hampstead
In which the Whites lived. Several o
the men employed at the Curt.ss work
boarded there. 1t was SAID that neigh
oors had been aroused more than ones
oetore dawn by the throbbing of motto
cars and had peered from behind win
dow shades to discover a taxicab pant
ing In front of the somewhat shabb,
structure.
The house was deserted yesterda,
ana It's interior bore evidence of lon,
neglect and, some ayerred of
thorough search By agents Of the De
partment of Justice, Intelligence officer
or some such thorough workmcn. Tn
storm door and the inner door zwun,
creaking on their hinges at ever
breeze. Within sunlight poured througi
grImy windows into unk.mpt rooms.
Rugs were grimy and wrinkled !,
places as though scarchcrs had fel
neneath the edges for concealed docu
ments. Muddy footprints were out
lined on the floor and stairs. I'm
washed dishes were to be found in un
expected places. Lamps with smok,
cp'mneys roasted on chairs and win
dow sills. Even the pictures hun,
awry-another evidence, it was sug
sested, OF rainstaking search.
Little Seen of Family
No ono il the town ever sau, ro,,ol
OF the family. They kept strictly +,
themselves, and this circumstance in