Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-23
"My I 0elUemonth
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer S Amazing Story
Of Starvation and Cruelty
in Essen.
ny VAN DER LINDEN
GopJT!sht. 1917. International News
Bureau.

which each workman was to receive as
part payment for work certain rations
OF food and II WAS the foremans duty
10 sign docket 10 tho effect that the
workers had duly received the specified
quantity. These dockets signed by the
dead man were brought forward
evidence that We had all that morning
received our rations. one after another
The prisoners Were questioned by the
judge. ana swore that they had had
nothing.
In the end, after u lengthy hearing.
III which the judgt asked many ques-
tons. we were all taken from the JUS
ttce-room. the case being adjourned
until the following mornng-a pro-
cccd!ng which learned from the
wardcr, under whose charge | was
placed for the night. was most I'M
usual one. There will be trouble for
some one over this" he said.
For he. | expect" returned.
"-Ach. yes" the man responded. You
vim get punished but Judge Heinz
has made up his mind to go we'll into
the matter: he viii SIT it to the bot
tom"
And TO the very bottom Judge Heinz
ala slit mat matter. for on the next
dag he had ,he caterer brought into
court. and that fellow. finding the game
was up, cried like child. He pro-
duc"d a who'll hatch Of food dockets.
all of them signed by Baumbcrg, SHOW
ms t!ihl We HSl !lhN lOoi on mat DAY
vet Baumberg was killed By Karl on
the previous morning.
II was maos clear that Baurnbe.S
had been in the habit OF signing Il
whole batch Of these docke,s at :, time.
The caterer told the whole story OF
how he and the dead man had entered
lHto " partnership TO defraud the
workers OF their food. mostly one meal
a DAY. and whatever food was pro-
vided should lie short of the authorized
alton. The oNcrpluS out OF which the
workers were done. was secretly sold
by The caterer 10 people outside the
factory at high prices, and the money
'hus obtained Was shared between him
ana BaumpNc
The latter in his position OF fore
man, was able 10 COVER the workers
by threats and bullying. so that none
dared I" make allegations against him;
and further, had any allegations been
made, II is extremely doubtful whether
proof could have been placed before
the Judge.
j seemed to me that In Germany one
had 20 commi; crime 10 bring Il griev.
ancc To tho notice OF the authorities
The authorities have no time 10 deal
with allegations, and pay no heed TO
them until they arc made TO attend
20 criminal matter. Then they set
to work 10 discover what lies nj the
root OF the trouble. AS TO whether the
root, once discovered. is destroyed
well, that is not for me to say.
SO serious a view did the Judge take
or the fraud that he remanded the
caterer for trial by the higher courts,
for The man was alleged to have been
guilty of a most serious orenSe against
tho food dictator's regulations. Later
heard that he had been sent to prison
FOR three years and ordered to pay
iinc OF 700, and others who had bought
the food had been punished
Hut Baumberg's fraud did not ah5olvc
me from my share in the trouble in
the shop. ! was declared to be not
guilty OF killing the man. who. the
judge thought. might have met his
death in the scrimmage. II Judge
Heinz should by any chance read these
disclosures. he will now know the true
facts concerning the foreman's death.
] was. however, found guilty of grave
breach OF discipline in striking him.
even in sclf-dcfcnsc. and for this was
ordered TO pay fine of IS and work
twelve hours per day for three weeks.
during which time was to receive no
pay. Happily, was not found guilty
of participation In the destruction OF
machinery. which charge was dismissed
against nc
How" asked the judge. lam to
pay IS If ] am to work for no pay for
all this time?"
You have money!" he asked.
No ! answered; 81 only commenced
trouble took place"
without looking from the book I'm
which he wrote. the judge said:
Il make an order that the fine be
deducted from your wages ut the ex-
pration of the three weeks punish
ment period. the deduction TO be at the
rate of 20 each week."
was considered lucky to escape
with so light n sentence. but this was
not the worst feature of the punish
ment. For one thing. was presented
with an order to pay S shillinSs, which.
it was stated, was the cost OF my food
and lodging whilst in the prison OF
krupps, and then / was transferred
| from the assembling shop and put into
the stoleholc. where ! had TO work
as stoker. J protested against this.
pointing out that I was skilled en-
gineer, and not fireman. but tho Of
hcials told me that I was undergoing
punishment. and should BIO put on other
work when had served my sentence.
1T was s o'clock when I went into
tho stokcholo after my trial for par