New-York tribune., 1918-07-04
$1,700,00o of Foes
Concealed Wealth
Seized by Palmer
M. Welte & Sons and the
International Textile Co.
in Governments Hands

Further alleged attempts to conceal
enemy owned property under the cloa..
OF an American corporation have been
uncovered by A. Mitchell Palmer, Alien
Property Custodian.
MIR. Palmer announced yesterday that
through additional disclosures made by
the Bureau of Investigation ne has
seized the property of two German
owned firms which is valued at more
than $1,7oo,ooo.
The concerns taken ever yesterday
we're the International Textile, Inc, of
Bridgeport, Conn, and NJ. Welte &
Sons, of this city, with plant in
Poughkeepsie.
Tie International Textile concern,
said Mr. Palmer, was formerly branch
Of the firm of Alb. and L. Hcnkels, of
Langerfeld. Germany, the largest lace
manufacturers in the world The con-
Germ also had q branch in Italy, which
has been sequestered by the Italian
government. The Bridgeport concern
was established in 1909 by Max Henk-
els, son of the German founder, and
was conducted as a branch Of the Ger-
man partnership until 1915. when it
was Incorporated under the Connecticut
laws as Alb. and Z. Henkels, Inc.
Name of Firm Changed
The name of the Henkels firm was
changed in March last to the Interna-
tional Textile, Inc. Investigation dis
closed both concerns were III reality
owned by the partnership Of Alb. and E.
Herkels, Of Langerfeld. Mr.. Palmer as.
serting that the change in name was
for the sole purpose OF concealing the
real ownership. 1t WIS revealed, stated
Mr.. Palmer, that after assuming the
held by Max Henkels, was transferred
to Ii. Albert Phillips, Of bridgeport, in
consideration Ct several long-tern
notes, under a contract by which Henk
els virtually retained ownersnip. Phil.
lips. said MIR. Palmer. assisted Henkels
in establishing the business, and has
been identified with it ever since.
The Bridgeport plant is one Of the
fines. and largest factories i'll that city
, and maintains Il model community
group of homes for it's employees. Tn,
branch also owns large spinning mil
in Pennsylvania, the value of .he prop
estin ated at more than sl,5OO.000. The
firm did more than 100000 worth o1
business in 1917.
Henkels a Rescrvis:
Max Henkels, it was pointed out b,
the custodian, is said to be q German
reservist officer, who attempted K
reach Germany at the outbreak of tht
war in 1914, on the Kronprinzessi1
Cecile, but was unable to do so n,
the ship returned to port and va.
later interned. Henkels is still q cit
zen OF Germany, although he applet
! for American citizenship in 1918. Hs
received his education in this country
! being 4 graduate Of Columbia Uni
versity.
It vas further disclosed that all O.
The books Of the company, the CORE
spondence files and other document.
which might prove the true OWNERSHIP,
of the concern had been DESTROYED
Sufficient evidence, however, was OBJ
tanned by the government agents K
warrant the property custodian seiz
ing the plant.
Piano Firm Seized
ne other hrm taken over. N. Welt'
! & Sons, Of this city. was engaged i,
the manufacture OF pianos and phil
! harmonic organs, with factor j,
/ poughheepsie. Heinrich Bockisch, tn,
! former manager and large stock
holder. was taken into custody by tn
/ United States government on Apri
q of this year, charged with dissent
mating German propaganda. He wa
ordered interned, and taken TO For
Oglethorpe last Tuesday.
The Welte property is valued a
more than 100000.
In consequence Of the charge
against Bockiscn. the sovernmen
seized the firms assets, appointing
the following directors on July /: Ed
ward holbrook. president of the Cor
ham Company and the American Gas
! Company; Barney Dreyfuss, presiden