New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Charges Hennig
Passed Defects
In Gyroscopes
Lieutenant Shea, in Brook
lyn Treason Trial, Tells Of
Finding Trick Gauge

Three witnesses testified Yesterday
against Paul IIcnnig, the former Ger
man, on trial in the Federal District
Court of Brooklyn on a charge Of trca-
son. Ensign Joseph Flynn, torpedo
expert. sworc that the defects on tor
pcdo gyroscopc bearings, which Hen
mig is charged with having deliberately
passed, we're sufficient to dcrange the
steering gear Of torpedo. although it
required d microscope to sec them.
Lieutenant Francis l.. Shea. chief
naval inspector at the l.. ". Bliss
plant in South Brooklyn. where Hen
mig formerly was a foreman. asserted
that in Hennig's workroom was test
ing table capable of being manipulated
SO that defective horoscopes would pass
as perfect. Defective horoscopes con-
tiNued to pass. Lieutenant Shea said,
until nc thrust wedge into the test
ing table pivot. and thereafter, he
added, not a gyroscope passed, ninety
siH being turned back.
Lieutenant Shea "Undcr Fire.
Lieutenant Shea was regarded as the
governments most important witness,
and he was subjected to searching
cross examination by the defence,
which brought the admission that the
naval officer had once been reduced
eleven numbers in rank as a result OF a
charge Of nto%ication. Another admis-
sion was that of all the foremcn in the
Bliss plant Hennig was the only one to
whom Lieutenant Shea did not speak
except upon matters of duty and bust
ness.
Arthur Wing. Hcnnig's chief coun-
sci, devoted an hour or more to an cf-
fort TO show chat this apparent enmity
followed a number of criticisms lien
nig is said to have made concerning
the officers ability as an inspector and
his sobriety. Mr. Wing asked if the
witness had not heard from a sub
ordinate named Mcintyre that Hennig
had said the lieutenant reversed a
previous judgment on piece Of work
because he had had too much to drink
at lunch Other criticisms alleged to
have been uttered by Hennig and re
peated to the officer were that Lieu
tenant Shea, who was graduated from
Annapolis IN 1909 and took part in the
landing at Vera Cruz, acted like a
schoolboy, and that some of his sub
ordinates paid too much attention to
the girl munition workers at the Bliss
plant.
But Lieutenant Shea denied having
heard from Mcintyre or any one else
anything from Hennig except crit
csm OF his judgment and complaint
concerning the attentions sub-inspec-
tors were paying 10 the young women
employees.
Then, attacking from another angl,
Mr.. Wing demanded TO know wheth -
Lieutenant Shea had not gone to off.
Gals of the Bliss company with com.
plants against llenuig a short time be
fore the latter WAS discharged and ac.
cused OF having treasonably tampered
With gyroscope parts.
Wanted Something on Him"
"Didn't YOU 90 to J. J. Flynn, general
manager OF the company. and say. sub.
stantially. I don't like this man Hen
rig; | believe he is doing something
bu; ! don't know what -" asked Mr.
Ming And didn't Mr Flynn say
Very we'll. We Will fire him to- day. and
YOU said. NO. no; wait till VIC get
something or HIM
81 don't remember replied the lieu
tenant
purng Lieutenant Shea's direct ex.
amfuati on IT Wa- brought ou- tina. tine
testing tah'c which be declared Wa
,aNahie "a n1aH'puiation WAS operated
hy Karl llCnnfg known as the tenson
ef the deientsnt and that many ct the
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