Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-23
1OF SUSPECTED
10 START STRIKE
s. Arrests Three for
Tampering With War
Material
INVESTIGATION STARTED
Gauges for Airplanes and Tor
pedoes Believe to Have Been
Deliberately Defective
INVESTIGATION STARTED

( The mystery surrounding the action
81 Assistant United states District At
oorney Walnut in warning Fritz Bier
rot, assistant manager OF the United
mates Gauge Company, of Sellersville'
pa.. following his arrest with two Others
not TO 60 back to the plant after his re-
tease on bail. was cleared up by the an
nouncement that Bierrot was suspected
q having arranged a general strike of
the workmen at the plant and the Gov
ernment didn't wish TO start anything
before II could get down there today
and make further Investigations.
Bierrot, arrested with George Schu-
bert, foreman Of the plant, and William
Hendricks, general manager. was re-
leased last night on $4,000 bail, which
he furnished. All are aliens but Helm
dricks. The trio are charged with con-
spiracy to defraud the Government and
are suspected of tampering with oxygen
gauges for airplanes and high-pressure
gauges for topedoes, In a supposed plot
to aid Germany.
They were taken into custody by
agents Of the military intelligence bu-
reau, plant protection division, with
headquarters in this city.
Had Hindenburs's Picture
Schubert is alleged to be an enemy
alien, and is reported to have hung a
picture OF Field Marshal Won Hinden.
burg over his desk. He speaks no
English. Bierrot Is also said to be
an enemy alien. while Hendricks was
born In Germany, but was naturalized
some years ago. The vice president
and general manager, Frederick Schu'
bert, is a native.born German. but was
naturalized twenty-eight years ago and
has been in this country more than
thirty years. No charge has been pre-.
ferred against him.
Decision of the jury in the Tageblatt
case will determine what action the Fed
eral authorities will take against the
three men. II was said today.
The charge against Hendricks. Bier
rot and Schubert will remain CON
splracy to defraud the Government" un-
less 1t Is proved that through the use CT
done to property of the Government or
human life has been lost.
Tsgeblatt Case to Decide.
II the Tageblatt case is decided favor
ably to the attorneys for the Govern
ment in their plea that 1t is not neces-
sary actually to commit an overt act
against the Government for an act to
bes recognized as treason--treason will
probably be the charge lodged against
the three executives. Otherwise, the
charge will stand as originally prefer
red.
Henry Jorn Nelson, an attorney for the
defendants in the Tageblatt case who
Ia ms Ch,,h
bricks and Bierrot. said today that the
cause Of the faulty gauges might be
found to have arisen through poor work.
menBhip and the desire on the part of
an employe to hide it to escape a rep
rimand
He did not say that this would form
. part Of the defense wien the case
ccnies to trial. but that It is possible for
something of the kind TO have been be-
hind the faults found by the inspectors.
Another feature OF the case was the
mystery United States attorneys are
throwing about the advice of Assistant
District Attorney Walnut to Fritz Bier
rot not to 90 back to the plant at Sell
lersville. While he did not order Bier
rot to keep away from the plant, the
Official assured Bierrot that the risk
would be his own and that the Govern
ment wanted il understood that he had
been warned.
II was thought that Bierrot might
return to destroy evidence of damag-
ing nature which might be discovered
by Investigations at the plant today.
II was said also that workmen at the
plant might be organized. through the
efforts Of Bierrot or otheSs, to hinder
the work Of the Government officials
~ much as possible
0pecial Agent McDeyitt of the Deis