New-York tribune., 1918-04-09
u. S. Agents Approve Clos
ing of Candy Fac
tories
Munition Workers
Have Close Call
They Find Glass i'm Confec-
ton Bars Made by N. Y.
Factory
[Staf Correspondence1

WATERBURY,, Conn, April s.
Federal Secret Service agents sent to
Waterbury to investigate reports of
glass in catables obtained evidence to-
day which they predicted would result
in government order prohibiting
alien enemy Germans from working in
any American candy factory during the
period of the war.
The government agents came to this
city expecting to soothe Waterbury's
ground glass scare, which on Saturday
caused the city health officer to order
all candy stores closed. The Secret
Service men were skeptical. No later
than Sunday the Bureau for Public In
formation from Washington had sent
out statement that of all the ground
glass scares which the government has
investigated, from Maine to California
there was found only one instance Of
glass having been placed in food ma
liciously, and that was the case of a
disgruntlet. Arkansas baker, who put
glass in bread to hurt his employer s
business.
Are Convinced Of Plot
But what the government men dis
covered in Waterbury to-day convinced
them that German agents have been
putting glass in candy to kill munition
workers in particular and American
grown-ups and children in general.
One of the warmest trails which the
Secret Service agents we're following
to-day leads to New York candy con-
Germ.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company,
of the chief plants on which the Amer
lean soldiers in France are depending
for munitions. Locally, this concern is
called. "The plant that saved the AL
lies" Waterbury boasts that when
Germany, prepared to the last uniform
button. started the war, and unpre-
pared England and France sought high
explosives in this country, the SEQ
will concern was the first American
plant to deliver the goods.
munition workers. Many of them
bought candy at the factory restau-
rant
George NJ. Beach. Waterbury superin-
tendent of police, to-day told that Fed
eral agents had obtained evidence show
ing that out of twenty-four chocolate
bars sold at the Scovill plant candy
counter, in one afternoon, two con-
tanned particles of glass which prob
ably would have caused the deaths of
two munition workers if they had not
detected the glass while eating the
candy.
"These twenty-four chocolate bars
came from the Auerbach plant in New
York." said Superintendent Beach.
"Government men tell me that their
next move will be to investigate who's
who on the Auerbach working force.
"Secret Service agents say that they
have found in Waterbury the first real
indications that the Germans still at
large in this country are employing
the ancient death dealing weapon of
glass in food to decrease the Kaisers
American enemies.
"Glass has been found in bread or
candy in other cities, but those in
stances were passed off as accidents.
Scout Accident Idea.
However, in my opinion, and on
this point the government men agree
with me, glass does not occur by acci-
dent in two out of twenty-four choco-
late bars.
"Government agents have told me
that they are investigating the posi-
bility of clique of Germans working
in a candy factory. 1t would take
number of Huns to do the job with
true German efficiency. Some would
have to put the glass in the candy as
it was made. Others would have to
see that the candy containing glass
was packed in marked boxes Then it
would be up to a German in the ship
ping room to send the marked boxes
to munition cities like Waterbury,
where they would be of the most help
to Won Hndenbura.
at has occurred to some that per-
haps the Germans employed in candy
factories had planned for Waterbury
little celebration in honor of the
anniversary OF this countrys entrance
into the war"
Government agents said to-day that,
in view of the two out Of twenty-four
average at the Scoville plant candy
counter, they would not be satisfied
until every piece of Auerbach candy
Waterbury still was nursing it's
sweet tooth to-day. All candy stores
remained closed.
cnemists tins morning began ana
lying samples of candy taken bv no.
lice from Waterbury stores. DR.. G. W
>. Frost. city health officer, reported
that Of 100 samples examined one
P'ETce oi grass had been found in
loIiypop made by the George Close
company, of Cambridge. Mass.
chemists Will begin on the Aucrbach
samples Tuesday morning.
A. L.. Auerbacn, one of the copart,
ners OF d. Auerbach & Son, Of 639
II mIeysnth ven ea0 Avenue, said last night that
OF the 1000 persons employed in his
candy plant less than / per cent were
enemy aliens TO whom first, but not
second. naturalization papers had been
,ssuca. he said no enemy aliens were
knowingly in his employ who had not
Zation. "a
When informed that Secret Service
agents had found ground glass in two
Of the twenty-four Aucrbach chocolate
bars examined, he insisted that was
quite Impossible. It was suggested
that official notification from United
States Secret Service men would prob.
ably reach him coon.
"That wouldn't worry me-" he re.
0t;nd ' "N ~