Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-04
JERSEY CITY Man
/ ACCUSED IN BLAST
U. S. Agent Tells Of IRON
workers Activities iii AL.
legged Sabotage.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Testimony to show that Michael
Kristoff. iron worker, Of Jersey City,
was one Of at least three German agents
who participated actively in the explo-
sion Of the Black Tom terminal OF the
Lehigh Valley Railway In 1916, was
given today before the German Amer
lean Mixed Claims Commission, in its
hearings on the s2i,oo0,ooo sabotage
claim of the United States against the
government Of Germany.
A story of how Kristoff returned TO
his aunt's home, where he lived, the
morning Of the explosion and repeated
many times, MY God, what did / do.
what did I do?" was told by American
Agent Robert w. Bomynge. The testi-
mony was given to him he said, by
Kristoff's cousin, Mrs. Chapman, who
lived in the aunt's house.
Contradictory Affidavits.
Bomynge also laid before the COM
mission two contradictory anidavits
made by william Charlock, an employe
in the ONCE Of the prosecuting attor-
ney Of Hudson County, New Jersey. One
Of these statements, which was pre-
sented by the United States, implicated
KristofI. The other, filed by Ger
many, and said to have been obtained
later, cleared Kristoff.
Bomynge said he would produce EVIL
dence to show that Charlock was en-
ployed by Germany to make investiga-
ton in connection with the case, and
base the United States charges
against Kristoff en- other evidence.
Germany's contention that the Black
Tom explosion and the fire at the
Kingsland. N. j., munitions assembling
plant of the Canadian Car b Foundry
Co. were due to some industrial nishap
not charegable to Germany will be
presented tomorrow by German Agent
DR.. Won Lewinski.
Activities Related.
Mrs. Chapman, and also Kristoff's
aunt, related q series of activities by
Kriston, all indicating he was employed
by Germany in q program Of destruc-
ton Bomynge told the commission.
Kristoff carried maps, charts and
blueprints, 1t was said, and made FREE
quent trips away from his home, some
Of which were followed by explosions in
the places to which he had gone. He
was away from home throughout the
night of the Black Tom explosion.
Evidence produced by Germany to
show that Kristoff was In Yonkers dur
ing the night Of the explosion was dis
puted.
A move on the part Of DR.. Won
Lewinski. to Introduce evidence to COM
bat o portion Of Bomynges case was
met by the announcement that the
State Department would be asked to
investigate German contentious which,
1t was said, amounted to an indirect
charge against American Vice Consul
Higgins at Mexico City.
DR.. Lewinski announced that he
would bring evidence secured by the
police of Mexico City to show that an
afi1davit filed recently by the United
State was obtained from q Mexican,
Luis Portales, who did not understand
English, who did not know the contents
of his statement, and who was paid $40
for beer" by American representatives
after he signed with his cross mark.
Identified Photographs.
Portales, agent Of the Jdarez Hotel
for the past 20 years, declared In the
affidavit that the owner, Otto Pag-
slasch. was O well known German and
entertained German agents frequently.
The afidAvit also identified two pho
tographs Is those Of men whom Port
ales knew to be German agents, and
whom he saw together with other Ger
man agents.
On Portales' afIidavit hinges another
filed by the United States, In which the
photographs are identified by name as
those of two admitted German agents,
one Of whom was employed at the
Kingsland plant, and both Of whom are
named by the United States as active
participants In the disasters.
The German evidence In connection
with Portales' af1davit amounts to q
charge against Vice Consul Higgins,
American Agent Bonynge asserted. since
Portales signed 1t at the American en-
bassy In Mexico City. In the vice con-
sul's presence, and with his assistance.