The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-24

Reter Edison case OF the jan
itor in a large eastern plant engaged
In the manufacture Of highly con-
fidential instruments. In the waste
paper basket Of the drafting room,
this janitor found what appeared to
be a delayed action arson device.
It was a bundle Of matches bound
with adhesive tape. One match,
partly burned, extended from the
bundle. 1t was obvious that the one
match was intended to ignite the
other matches, thus starting really
hot fire.
The FBI was called in and, during
the investigation, 1t was discovered
that the under sides OF the metal
stools used by craftsmen were black
ened and contained traces Of the
adhesive tape. Finally one Of the
craftsmen explained and confessed,
1t was common gag in this draft
ing room to fasten these match bum
dies to seats Of the stools, then
ignite the lead match and walk
away. The SUDDEN flaring Of the
matches gave the victim realistic
hot seat and everybody laughed. This
In a room where invaluable trac-
ings and blueprints were kept, any
Of which would ignite readily.
GROUND GLASS SABOTAGE
Twenty three planes in an air.
craft plant were apparently sabo-
tagged by placing glass In the fluid
Of the hydraulic brake system. These
bits OF glass, which would have
chewed through the rubber tube
connections, were extracted In the
crime laboratory Of the FBI head
quarters In Washington, and on ex-
animation It was found that all the
pieces had curved surfaces, the glass
being Of a special heat-resistant
composition.
Investigation was then directed
to all possible sources Of such glass
| In this plant. r. centered finally or
O "flow meter" used In testing the
brakes. On opening the chamber
Of the meter, the missing pieces Of
the glass test valve were discovered
and the cause of the accident ex-
planned. During q night shift, one
Of the valves had broken and fallen
into the chamber.
The operator had~neglected to re-
move the broken glass and had
merely inserted a new valve and
gone on about his business. A sim.
pie case of carelessness, but the eff
feet was the same as sabotage.
SABOTAGE FOR REVENGE
The revenge" case form perhaps
the most interesting, psychological
~, Of all the suspected sabotage re-
ports. Typical Of these reported to
the FBI was that Of John George
Majus, now serving q three-yeaI
term in federal penitentiary, after
conviction in San Francisco.
Majus had been member Of the
crew Of the s. s. Calmar, which was
about to be converted for use by
the Army Transport Service. One
night while the ship lay In port, II
was discovered that the steering rod
connecting the steering engine II
the rudder, had been partially cut
with a hacksaw.
It looked like a clear case Of sabo.
tage. Suspicion 'centered on Maju'
when 1t was learned he had severa
times threatened to damage the shiI
as a result Of grievances he hat
against the ships officers and own.
ers. Majus at first denied any
knowledge Of the damage to thu
steering rod, but later he confessed
that he had been drunk and hat
not realized what he was doing.
And though he was Of Rumaniar
birth, unnaturalized, he had no
been intent on wrecking transpor
or killing American soldiers. AL
he had on his mind was getting
even with the boss.
Most curious Of all the FBI sabo'
tage investigations is the case o
Nicholas Buenopane. an ex-Marin'
Of Italian descent. Buenopane haS
visited the FBI academy at GUAM
tico, and he decided he could bea
the G-men. Taking a knife, h
cut several electrical connections OF
a BIS Tokyo Express.
When he was finally tracked dow
and identified as the individual whit
! had tempered with the plane, h
gave as his reason and in his signet
confession declared that his sole mo
tive was to see whether the FB
could solve a sabotage case. H
found out, and Is now awaiting