New-York tribune., 1921-12-18

Assured that he would set share Of
the reward offered for tho arrest and
conviction of the dsnamiters, he agreed
70 60 to Europe. gather further evil
dence and enable government agents to
arrest the bombers.
He had his first citizenship papers
but not his final papers. He applied
for his Anal papers before departing,
but was unsuccessful, although It is
thought that the Department Of Justice
cxertcd some influence in his behalf.
It was four months ago that Linden
field sailed. Weeks and months passed
and nothing was heard from him. He
was as silent as the miasing Altendorf.
Inquiries were set afoot and It was
Europe, in exactly the district in which
he would be If he was acting in good
faith for the Department of Justice.
His failure to report might be signifi-
cant, however, particularly In view of
reportS which came in concerning his
activities In the past. He is man
who has had many friends, most Of
whom seem to have lost confidence IN
him.
The reports indicate that for several
years he has led an Elisa-like exist
ence. lcaping from one icy and insecure
friendship Just as it was about to sink
foothold on another. One group of
radicals after another has known him
as a member and then discarded him
with suspicion that he was allied with
their rivals or their foes.
There was time previously when he
was an informant for the Department.
cf Justice, it is said, but he was dropped
after numerous suspects against whom
he had given evidence had. vanished
just about the time that had been fixed
tor their arrest.
Tho Department of Justice decided
to find out just what Lindenfcld was
doing, and about two months ago Syl-
vcster Cosgrovc was sent abroad on
that mission. 1t is understood that
Cosgrove was to cause Lindenfeld's ar
rest if necessary, utilizing as prctext
an irregularity in his passport, which
is said to describe him as citizen of
the United States although he has not
obtained his final papers.
Mysteries Increase in Case
Now come the mystifying news dis
patches telling of Lindenfelds arrest
by Cosgrovc at the instance of Alten-
dorf and of confession of actual par
ticipation in the bomb plot which Lin
denfeld is said to have made.
Lindenfeld is native of Poland and
half-brother to Rosa Luxemhurg, the
Spartacist leader who was killed in Ger
many. He was active in Russia in the
revolution of 1906, and was banished
to Siberia, but escaped. 1t is said that
in spite of his revolutionary activities
he was regarded with suspicion by
some groups of revolutionists, and
after his escape from Siberia he did
not remain many years in Russia or
Poland.
He came to the United States in 1912
and began to make Affiliations at once
with various anarchist, Communist
and radical union groups. When Leon
Trotzky was in Chicago Lindenfeld was
his intimate friend, or pretended to be.
Lindenfeld phophesied that soon
Trotzky would rule Russia.
During this period Lindenfeld some
times was sought by police detectives
as a source of information and some
times by Federal detectives. They lost
confidence in him after while, how
ever, as, apparently, had many of the
radical leaders with whom he had
struck up friendships.
One police otfieial who said he was
familiar with $Ltndepfeld's career ex-
pressed the opinion that Lindenfeld
was handing the government line of
hunk. Lindenfeld, he said, WAS not
the man to pass up any opportunity to
do bit ofEinvestigating wiseE some
body else paid the expenses, particu-
larly If there was a chance at big
reward in the end. Lindenfeld's story
of a payment of 0,000 to five anar-
chists or Communists, the police offi-
cial thought, was open to doubt, as
L e L II. vaof md Horto ro
Jobs of that kind for hire but from
devotion to the cause.
DIR. Paul Altendorf at one time acted
ss an agent of the Department of Jus
tice in Mexico, but his credentials later
were revoked and he was barred at the
border when he sought to return as "a
pernicious foreigner" This was after
an insurance organization had given
out statement ia 1919 hailing Alien
dorf as the American spy who had
foiled German plots III Mexico.
Altendorf Barred at Border
He was said to have gained the con-
tidencc of Carranza and of the repre-
sentatves OF the German government
in Mexico and to have used the knowi-
edge thus obtained TO bring all their
plans to naught. No denial was made
by the Department of Justice at the
time, but when DR.. AitendOrf was ready
to make his triumphal entry into the
country he had saved he was excluded
without comment. He also is native
Of Poland.
I. M. Sackin, counsel for the "Trib-
uue Polska," of which Lindenfcld used
to be editor, said that Lindenfeld had
asked him to undertake a divorce ac-
tion for him, but that he refused. I'm
I'll year ago, Mr.. Sackin said, Linden
field lived with his wife and children
at 243 East Eighteenth Street. He
moved, said the attorney, leaving his
family behind him, to 223 East Nine
teenth Street, and then to the Hotel
Imperial. When MIR. Sackin heard from
I.indenfcld last he was at the Hotel
Albert.
'iIc is very vain fellow said the
attorney. "He loves notoriety and the
reputation of being an adventurer. He
was tremendous spender, but in all
our relations as lawyer and client I
never could get an explanation of his
apparent prosperity. He said he was
the agent of syndicate of Polish
newspapers. but no such syndicate
would maintain him in the affiuence
in which he Aourished."