Evening star., 1950-01-08
Six Detective Teams
QuizWatchman About
Attacks Against JAW
BY the Assoeiafsd Press

OF detectives questioned a $58-a-
week employe of the CIO United
Auto Workers today about a cam
paign of violence against the
union over the last two years.
William K. Thomas, So, stead
lastly denied after five hours of
grilling any knowledge of the at
tempted assassinations of the
Reuther brothers.
The white-haired night watch
man also denied knowledge of an
attempt to blow up union inter-
national headquarters. He in
sisted his only part was in help
ire find the dud dynamite bomb
plant there December 20.
After 13 hours of grilling,
Thomas admitted late last night
he faxed a torture kidnapping
story early yesterday. The hoax
led police to question Thomas
about the entire campaign of vio-
lence that led the Justice Depart
ment to order an FBI investiga-
ton.
Martyr Complex" Suspected.
Detroit detectives said question
ing of Thomas was based on a
theory some one with a martyr
complex" might be responsible for
the violence against the union.
Despite offers of nearly $25,-
900 in rewards. authorities have
failed to solve the attempted shot
gun attacks on Walter Reuther,
VIVA president, and his brother,
Victor, UAW education director.
Detective Inspector Joseph
Krug said renewed questioning
of Thomas so far had thrown no
light on the shootings or at
tempted dynamiting.
Inspector Krug said Thomas
admitted having worked on con-
struction jobs where dynamite was
used, but that he never had
handled dynamite.
The inspector said, Thomas had
once, many years ago, been re-
ported somewhat bitter" about
the UAW. He lost a job at the
Motor Products Corp. in 1886
during a strike. After he COM
planned about it, he was hired by
the union as a part time main
tenance man at it's headquarters
and later as full-time watch,
man. .
Thomas and another watchman
found 80 sticks of dynamite wrap
ped in holiday tinsel at union
headquarters the night of Decem-
ber 20.
After admitting the kidnap
hoax, Thomas told police he had
brooded ever since the bomb plot
disclosure.
81 wanted to kill myself" he
said. because people were saying
behind my back that I set the
bomb. I'm in a bad mental state. :"
Inspector Krug reported tests
showed there was no similarity
between the voice of Thomas and
the man who called a Detroit
Times reporter the night of the
attempted dynamiting. The an
onymous call to the Times warned
there would be bombing.
Krug said Thomas. questioned
about union politics, declared he
had nothing against the. Reuther
brothers and 81 always favored
them" He Is not member Of the
UAW. but belongs to the CIO Office
Workers Union which covers build
ing employees.
Thomas was questioned about his
absence from December 81 until
Wednesday night. Inspector Krug
said the night watchman told Of
staying four nights in hotels at
Toledo. Ohio, and two nights in
Detroit hotels. FBI agents picked
him up Wednesday as he left a
downtown restaurant. He was
questioned Thursday by Detroit po-
lice and given q lie detector test.
First studies of the test indicated
he had no knowledge of the at
tempted dynamiting.
The inspector said Thomas also
declared he had no car and had not
driven one in 20 years. Getaway
cars were used in both the Reuther
~h4o%;xare