Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-17
Wall Street Bomb
Mystery Is S0tUed

Continued frcin Page One
possible and turn States evidence. The
Polish authorities say he was exposed
In 1905 MS n Russian secret agent and
fed to America at that time, returning
to Europe last spring.
Agent Poses as. Communist
Altendorf came to Europe in Febru-
ary last, while Lindenfeld came over In
March. During the summer Altendorf,
living in various communistic centers,
obtained clue which led him to seek
Lindenfeld's acquaintance. As result
Cosgrove arrived in Warsaw two months
ago, posing as having connections with
communist groups in America. and was
introduced to Lindenfcld by Altcndorf
After establishing his acquaintance
Cosgrove suggested to Lindenfeld a
scheme whereby, by giving information
in regard to the Wall Street explosion,
he could receive large share OF the re-
ward offered for the arrest Of the plot
terra without risk to himself.
Throughout these operations by the
American secret service man, Polish
operatives shadowed Lindenfeld, and
the Poles claim that. while Lindenfeld
was pretending to play Into Cosgrove's s
hands, he was at the same time double
crossing" the American.
Clues developed while trailing lin
denfeld led the Polish agents to arrest
number of communists who are al
legged to be spies working against the
interests of Poland. Several women are
involved in this alleged espionage plot.
Explosion Was Premature
The confession, as described by the
4 ha k,,y
explosion "a mechanical mistake" for
which the bombmskers are blamed. Lin
denfeld estimating that the bomb ex-
ploded from ten to fifteen minutes before
the intended time. The plotters also ac-
cusc the driver of the wagon which
brought the bomb to Wall street of
having erred in not leaving the wagon
nearer the Morgan Office.
Cosgrove and Altcndorf estimate that
Lindenfeld's confession covers more than
10 900 words, and assert that the de-
tails fit in with the mass of other infor-
nation in their possession.
Further portions of the confession re-
ferred to by Cosgrove show that Lin
denfeld knew of the plans for more than
week prior to the explosion, but de-
ny any actual part in the bombing
preparations. Hc gives New York ad-
dresses of various individuals involved
in the plot, most Of whom have since
left the country, and also gives n New
| York address where the Communists are
alleged to have paid over the cash to
the plotters.
Cosgrove AYERS that his information
shows Lindenfeld had close connections
with Moscow, from where he received
! funds regularly. BY the Polish Secret
Service 1t is asserted that the suspected
/ lnl
COW of the Third Internationale, that
he was born In Warsaw, has muny rel =
atives here and carries a Polish pass
! wort. For most of the time since March
! he has been living in Warsaw, posing
as an American.
New York, Dec. 1.-THE Wall street
explosion of September 16, 1920, which
killed thirty eight persons and injured
hundreds, was followed by inrestiga
tions by police, Department of Justice
suited In many arrests. but no convinc
ing evidence connecting any of those
arrested with the outrage. On severa
occasions the police and Federal agents
declared they knew the identity of the
driver OF the wagon which contained
the explosive, but they failed to name
or arrest him. William Il. Flynn, Chief
of the Department Of Justice agents, at :
tributed the explosion to anarchists
Another theory was it was the work o.
rival labor organizations.
Reports we're current here that ad =
ditional arrests might be made after
the arrival of Mr.. Burns from Washing
ton late today.
DR.. Paul Altendorf at one time held
credentials as an agent of the De-
artm nf JnStIcn hnt
these were later revoked. DR.. Alien
dorf attempted to cross the line from
Mexico into the United States at
Juarez in 1920, but was turned back
as an undesirable 'nlen." He had
previously been. ordered out by the
Mexican authorities DIR. Altendort
was n native Of Poland, but claimed
American citizenship. His claim was
denied by the American Government.
EDUCATIONAL