(2)
C
by 189476/45.
33583
Hinton G. Clabaugh vision Superintendent
REC
REG 10 JUL 18
Refer to Initials
R-DB.
West Wing Fifth Floor
Federal Building Telephone Harrison 4700
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Bureau of Investigation
Office of Division Superintendent
121
It was the opinion of the trade that the losses in-" cident to fluctuations in prices had consumed the profits of the previous years and their losses had been quite large it is said.
Investigation in the local teat trade revealed that the year 1910 had been an extremely bad one for this line of business, stock scarcely moving, consequent- ly loans had to be extended to such an extent that the profits of the business scarcely covered the increased interest.
It was also rumored in some quarters that this particular firm was handicapped by the antiquated business methods of John C. Siegfried.
The subject firm has been a client of a local bank for a number of years, maintains good balances, has been granted borrowing" accomodations and relations have been very satisfactory.
John C. Siegfried & Co., is thought to repre- sent some fair margin of clear assets, but in the absence of a detailed statement we believe special arrangements advisable in dealings of magnitude.
The Siegfrieds are believed of German extraction but are said to be citizens of the United States.
Regarding OTTO W. WINCKLER, formerly listed as manager we learn as follows:
He came from Austrália where he is said to have been interned for two years by that government. He came to the United States early in 1917 and was employed as, Manager of the Chicago office of the John C, Siegfried' & Co., 628 Hearst Building greWe learn he is a German subject and was registered/ an alien enemy. He was arrested as a suspect but investigation disclosed that he was not dangerous and the concern with which he was connected promised the authorities to send him to their San Francisco office.
May 3, 138.
(18--(KR)
Howard G. Harvey, Esq.,
CHICAGO.
May 16, 1918.
c.o.U. S. Naval Communication Service, Postal Telegraph Bldg.,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Sir:
In re 0. W. Winckler
I beg to quote the following report made by Special Agent F. J. Kerns, San Francisco, under date of February 21, 1918:
"Mr. Philip J. Baumgarten, residing at 1239 Second Ave., called at the Bureau office today and stated the following in regard to 0. W. Winckler, a German who was interned for two years in Australia. Winckler was detained by the British authorities for some time, and had the faculty of throwing his shoulder out of joint, necessitating the frequent resetting of same. After awhile, informant states, the authorities becaue tired of this proceeding, and liberated him, and he immediately came to the United States,
He was in San Francisco for some time, but informant could not say where he was employed or where he resided while in this city. He is now in the employ of Siegfried & Co., Hearst Bldg., Chicago, Ill.
Informant states that the grandfather of this man is the owner of a match factory in Sweden and Winckler transmits information to him which he in turn sends to Germany. A label from one of the match boxes used by this factory, stating that the matches are made by Jonkopings & Vulcans, T.F.A.B., Sweden, is attached to the copy of this report to be furnished the Chicago office of the Bureau. Informant states that further information regarding this feature of the case can be obtained from A.A. MacDonald, with Barkley & Co., brokers, San Fancisco. In conversation with MacDonald, in answer to the question whether or not he would become a citizen if he remained in this country, Winckler is alleged to have replied that he would not disgrace himself by so doing, end that if the Kaiser said to blow up a buling he was just the man to do it."
"Informant stated that he had secured all this in- formation from Mr. Little of the firm of Little Marx & Co., Importers, 519 California St. Winckler is said to be about 40 years of age."
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