New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-28
Judge Thomas Ex-
presses Belief New
Britain Contractor
Favors Germany
ALDERMAN CURTIS
CONSIDERS HIM O. X.

Member of City Government Surprises
Court by Appearing as Charac cter
Witness While Ignorant of Charges
Accused Said Huns Had Right to
Sink misunderstanding of Sen-
tencc Deferred.
In the United States District court
at Hartford today, John Kunz, build
ing contractor, OF this city, pleaded
guilty to charges of uttering seditious
statements. Judge E. S. Thomas, who
heard the. case, took the testimony
Aunder consideration and did not i'm
mediately pass judgment.
Alderman Orson Il. Curtis and Ell
mer G. Hurlburt, general manager of
the Vulcan Iron Works, appeared as
character witnesses on behalf of Kunz.
Assistant United States District At
torney John T. Crosby presented the
case for the government, and Judge
Arthur S. Perkins and Attorney Will
liam Fl. Macdonald were counsel for
Kunz.
Attorney Crosby spoke briefly in
presenting the case and filed the
signed statements concerning the ut
terances made by kunz. Among tho
statements alleged to have been made
by Kunz were:
Young men are fools to enlist and
go across to be blown up
Germany had a perfect right to
sink the Lusitania."
Mr.. Kunz so confessed that he said
that aliens should keep their mouths
shut; but he, as an American citizen,
had the right to criticize the govern
ment.
Alderman Curtis was the first wit
ness called by tho defense and he said
that he had known Kunz for 25 years
and had employed Kunz from 1898 to
1904, during which time Kunz worked
on the government contracts at Forts
Wright, Terry and Niche on Fishers
Island and in that vicinity. The alder
man said he never heard Kunz utter
any disloyal statements In Mr.. Cur
It's opinion, Kunz is level-headed but
has a rather fractions temper. Bus
mess men and bankers with whom he
do you know what Mr.. Kunz is
charged with?" asked Judge Thomas.
'No,' replied the alderman.
why do you come into court now
and say these things and not know
with what the accused is charged ?"
asked the Judge. Mr.. Curtis replied
because he knows kunz and did not
believe that he was disloyal. 49,.
Tudoe Thomas then read extracts
from Kunz's signed statement What
do you think of that?" he asked.
''Those are not my sentiments" said
Mr.. Curtis.
"In these times those are regarded
as serious utterances," said Judge
Thomas. you've heard of German
propaganda" commented Judge
Thomas. He said that the remarks
were in line with insidious propa-
ganda/and he regarded it all the more
serious because they were the state
ments of a man BORN in this coun-
try.
MIR. Kunz knows" said Judge
Thomas, that for such statements in
Germany a man would be lined up
against q wall
Judge Perkins said that there was
nothing to indicate that kunz was a
paid agent OF the German govern
ment.
f. G. Hurlburt said that Kunz was
employed by him for the past year
and during that time had worked on
munitions and had helped the govern
ment He was of the opinion that
Kunz had shown a disposition to aid
the government.
Judge Thomas remarked that it was
n
about the country persons had been
sentenced to 5 years at Atlanta.
These people have got to under
stand that these are serious state
ments and we are living in serious
days: remarks such as these bring
down serious punishment" said Judge
Thomas.
Judge Perkins said that the state
ments made were uttered in the heat
of argument and there was nothing
10 show that at heart Kunz was in
sympathy with Germany. They were
made in excitement and not intended
10 interfere with the military system
of the country.
Judge Thomas commented that
Kunz's sympathies are with Germany.
He likened it to man who shot
another. The shooter did not intend
10 kill, but he did and was punished.
He regarded the statement that
Kunz's claim to right to criticise be
rause he was n citizen as serious.
"He claims the right to American
citizenship and is in sympathy with
Germany. Can you beat it?"
Attorney Macdonald said that
Kunz had purchased Liberty Bonds
and Thrift Stamps