Husband's Obituaries:
BRUCE BIELASKI, JUSTICE AIDE, DIES
Special to The New York Times
FEB.. 20, 1964
GREAT NECK, L. I., Feb. 19 —A. Bruce Bielaski, who headed the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice in World War I and who later was a special assistant to the Attorney General in prosecuting liquor smugglers during Prohibition, died today at his home in Kings Point. He was 80 vears old.
From 1929 until his retirement in 1959, Mr. Bielaski headed the arson department of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and was assistant general manager of the board from 1943 to 1959.
Mr. Bielaski was born in Montgomery County, Md., the son of Rev. Alexander Bie‐laski, a Methodist minister, and Roselle Israel Bielaski. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in 1904 and joined the Justice Department a year later.
By 1917–18, he had risen to chief of the bureau. He testified before a Congressional committee about German espionage and propaganda efforts in this country, including offers of funds to subsidize American newspapers.
On Dec. 6, 1918, he told a Senate subcommittee investigating wartime propaganda that a former American correspondent had advised Capt. Franz von Papen, an assistant military attache, that it would be advantageous to stir anti‐Japanese riots on the Pacific Coast.
Described Propaganda
He said that systematic German propaganda was undertaken not only among the IrishAmericans, but also among the Jewish population in this country. The tenor of the propaganda, he testified, emphasized the idea that Germany was fighting Russia, which had oppressed the Jews.
With the war over, he resigned to enter private law practice.
Mr. Bielaski made headlines in 1922 when he was kidnapped from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and held for ransom. A tall, vigorous man, he escaped three nights later from a cave where he was held and made his way to the town of Tetecala. A New York Times correspondent drove officials to the town and brought him back, as well as “the entire ransom” of 10,000 pesos that had been assembled to obtain his release.
In 1925 and 1926 Mr. Bielaski headed an office at 120 Broadway in New York as chief “undercover” man for Brig. Gen. Lincoln C. Andrews, who was in charge of Federal enforcement of the Prohibition law.
In 1926 Mr. Bielaski, acknowledged that he had used Government funds to operate the Bridge Whist Club on East 41st Street in New York as a decoy speakeasy. He defended this as being largely responsible for the roundup that year of the William V. Dwyer liquor ring. He resigned from Government service in March 1927.
Had 100 Investigators
His years of investigative experience led to his work for the fire underwriters, seeking to protect the insurance industry against arson as a cause of fire damage. He built up a staff of 100 criminal investigators.
Mr. Bielaski was national president from 1921 to 1923 of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity and was chairman of the Interfraternity Conference in 1923‐24. He was president of the Former Special . Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1939‐40.
Mr. Bielaski is survived by his widow, the former Amelia Dodson Benson, who during World War I taught at Chevy Chase (Md.) high school to supplement her husband's pay of $3,500 a year as head of the investigation bureau.
He is also suvived by two sons, A. Bruce Bielaski Jr. and Robert C. Bielaski; two daughters, Miss Amelia D. Bielaski and Mrs. William Cornforth; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth B. Shipley, former head of the passport office of the State Department, and Mrs. Thomas Miller; a brother, Fred C. Bielaski; seven grandchildren and five great‐grandchildren.
Source: The New York Times, New York, New York, February 20, 1964
~~~~~~~~~~
Info for Amelia:
http://meyerhoff.goucher.edu/library/robin/index/mbb.htm
BRUCE BIELASKI, JUSTICE AIDE, DIES
Special to The New York Times
FEB.. 20, 1964
GREAT NECK, L. I., Feb. 19 —A. Bruce Bielaski, who headed the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice in World War I and who later was a special assistant to the Attorney General in prosecuting liquor smugglers during Prohibition, died today at his home in Kings Point. He was 80 vears old.
From 1929 until his retirement in 1959, Mr. Bielaski headed the arson department of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and was assistant general manager of the board from 1943 to 1959.
Mr. Bielaski was born in Montgomery County, Md., the son of Rev. Alexander Bie‐laski, a Methodist minister, and Roselle Israel Bielaski. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in 1904 and joined the Justice Department a year later.
By 1917–18, he had risen to chief of the bureau. He testified before a Congressional committee about German espionage and propaganda efforts in this country, including offers of funds to subsidize American newspapers.
On Dec. 6, 1918, he told a Senate subcommittee investigating wartime propaganda that a former American correspondent had advised Capt. Franz von Papen, an assistant military attache, that it would be advantageous to stir anti‐Japanese riots on the Pacific Coast.
Described Propaganda
He said that systematic German propaganda was undertaken not only among the IrishAmericans, but also among the Jewish population in this country. The tenor of the propaganda, he testified, emphasized the idea that Germany was fighting Russia, which had oppressed the Jews.
With the war over, he resigned to enter private law practice.
Mr. Bielaski made headlines in 1922 when he was kidnapped from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and held for ransom. A tall, vigorous man, he escaped three nights later from a cave where he was held and made his way to the town of Tetecala. A New York Times correspondent drove officials to the town and brought him back, as well as “the entire ransom” of 10,000 pesos that had been assembled to obtain his release.
In 1925 and 1926 Mr. Bielaski headed an office at 120 Broadway in New York as chief “undercover” man for Brig. Gen. Lincoln C. Andrews, who was in charge of Federal enforcement of the Prohibition law.
In 1926 Mr. Bielaski, acknowledged that he had used Government funds to operate the Bridge Whist Club on East 41st Street in New York as a decoy speakeasy. He defended this as being largely responsible for the roundup that year of the William V. Dwyer liquor ring. He resigned from Government service in March 1927.
Had 100 Investigators
His years of investigative experience led to his work for the fire underwriters, seeking to protect the insurance industry against arson as a cause of fire damage. He built up a staff of 100 criminal investigators.
Mr. Bielaski was national president from 1921 to 1923 of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity and was chairman of the Interfraternity Conference in 1923‐24. He was president of the Former Special . Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1939‐40.
Mr. Bielaski is survived by his widow, the former Amelia Dodson Benson, who during World War I taught at Chevy Chase (Md.) high school to supplement her husband's pay of $3,500 a year as head of the investigation bureau.
He is also suvived by two sons, A. Bruce Bielaski Jr. and Robert C. Bielaski; two daughters, Miss Amelia D. Bielaski and Mrs. William Cornforth; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth B. Shipley, former head of the passport office of the State Department, and Mrs. Thomas Miller; a brother, Fred C. Bielaski; seven grandchildren and five great‐grandchildren.
Source: The New York Times, New York, New York, February 20, 1964
~~~~~~~~~~
Info for Amelia:
http://meyerhoff.goucher.edu/library/robin/index/mbb.htm
Husband's Obituaries:
BRUCE BIELASKI, JUSTICE AIDE, DIES
Special to The New York Times
FEB.. 20, 1964
GREAT NECK, L. I., Feb. 19 —A. Bruce Bielaski, who headed the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice in World War I and who later was a special assistant to the Attorney General in prosecuting liquor smugglers during Prohibition, died today at his home in Kings Point. He was 80 vears old.
From 1929 until his retirement in 1959, Mr. Bielaski headed the arson department of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and was assistant general manager of the board from 1943 to 1959.
Mr. Bielaski was born in Montgomery County, Md., the son of Rev. Alexander Bie‐laski, a Methodist minister, and Roselle Israel Bielaski. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in 1904 and joined the Justice Department a year later.
By 1917–18, he had risen to chief of the bureau. He testified before a Congressional committee about German espionage and propaganda efforts in this country, including offers of funds to subsidize American newspapers.
On Dec. 6, 1918, he told a Senate subcommittee investigating wartime propaganda that a former American correspondent had advised Capt. Franz von Papen, an assistant military attache, that it would be advantageous to stir anti‐Japanese riots on the Pacific Coast.
Described Propaganda
He said that systematic German propaganda was undertaken not only among the IrishAmericans, but also among the Jewish population in this country. The tenor of the propaganda, he testified, emphasized the idea that Germany was fighting Russia, which had oppressed the Jews.
With the war over, he resigned to enter private law practice.
Mr. Bielaski made headlines in 1922 when he was kidnapped from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and held for ransom. A tall, vigorous man, he escaped three nights later from a cave where he was held and made his way to the town of Tetecala. A New York Times correspondent drove officials to the town and brought him back, as well as “the entire ransom” of 10,000 pesos that had been assembled to obtain his release.
In 1925 and 1926 Mr. Bielaski headed an office at 120 Broadway in New York as chief “undercover” man for Brig. Gen. Lincoln C. Andrews, who was in charge of Federal enforcement of the Prohibition law.
In 1926 Mr. Bielaski, acknowledged that he had used Government funds to operate the Bridge Whist Club on East 41st Street in New York as a decoy speakeasy. He defended this as being largely responsible for the roundup that year of the William V. Dwyer liquor ring. He resigned from Government service in March 1927.
Had 100 Investigators
His years of investigative experience led to his work for the fire underwriters, seeking to protect the insurance industry against arson as a cause of fire damage. He built up a staff of 100 criminal investigators.
Mr. Bielaski was national president from 1921 to 1923 of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity and was chairman of the Interfraternity Conference in 1923‐24. He was president of the Former Special . Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1939‐40.
Mr. Bielaski is survived by his widow, the former Amelia Dodson Benson, who during World War I taught at Chevy Chase (Md.) high school to supplement her husband's pay of $3,500 a year as head of the investigation bureau.
He is also suvived by two sons, A. Bruce Bielaski Jr. and Robert C. Bielaski; two daughters, Miss Amelia D. Bielaski and Mrs. William Cornforth; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth B. Shipley, former head of the passport office of the State Department, and Mrs. Thomas Miller; a brother, Fred C. Bielaski; seven grandchildren and five great‐grandchildren.
Source: The New York Times, New York, New York, February 20, 1964
~~~~~~~~~~
Info for Amelia:
http://meyerhoff.goucher.edu/library/robin/index/mbb.htm
BRUCE BIELASKI, JUSTICE AIDE, DIES
Special to The New York Times
FEB.. 20, 1964
GREAT NECK, L. I., Feb. 19 —A. Bruce Bielaski, who headed the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice in World War I and who later was a special assistant to the Attorney General in prosecuting liquor smugglers during Prohibition, died today at his home in Kings Point. He was 80 vears old.
From 1929 until his retirement in 1959, Mr. Bielaski headed the arson department of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and was assistant general manager of the board from 1943 to 1959.
Mr. Bielaski was born in Montgomery County, Md., the son of Rev. Alexander Bie‐laski, a Methodist minister, and Roselle Israel Bielaski. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in 1904 and joined the Justice Department a year later.
By 1917–18, he had risen to chief of the bureau. He testified before a Congressional committee about German espionage and propaganda efforts in this country, including offers of funds to subsidize American newspapers.
On Dec. 6, 1918, he told a Senate subcommittee investigating wartime propaganda that a former American correspondent had advised Capt. Franz von Papen, an assistant military attache, that it would be advantageous to stir anti‐Japanese riots on the Pacific Coast.
Described Propaganda
He said that systematic German propaganda was undertaken not only among the IrishAmericans, but also among the Jewish population in this country. The tenor of the propaganda, he testified, emphasized the idea that Germany was fighting Russia, which had oppressed the Jews.
With the war over, he resigned to enter private law practice.
Mr. Bielaski made headlines in 1922 when he was kidnapped from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and held for ransom. A tall, vigorous man, he escaped three nights later from a cave where he was held and made his way to the town of Tetecala. A New York Times correspondent drove officials to the town and brought him back, as well as “the entire ransom” of 10,000 pesos that had been assembled to obtain his release.
In 1925 and 1926 Mr. Bielaski headed an office at 120 Broadway in New York as chief “undercover” man for Brig. Gen. Lincoln C. Andrews, who was in charge of Federal enforcement of the Prohibition law.
In 1926 Mr. Bielaski, acknowledged that he had used Government funds to operate the Bridge Whist Club on East 41st Street in New York as a decoy speakeasy. He defended this as being largely responsible for the roundup that year of the William V. Dwyer liquor ring. He resigned from Government service in March 1927.
Had 100 Investigators
His years of investigative experience led to his work for the fire underwriters, seeking to protect the insurance industry against arson as a cause of fire damage. He built up a staff of 100 criminal investigators.
Mr. Bielaski was national president from 1921 to 1923 of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity and was chairman of the Interfraternity Conference in 1923‐24. He was president of the Former Special . Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1939‐40.
Mr. Bielaski is survived by his widow, the former Amelia Dodson Benson, who during World War I taught at Chevy Chase (Md.) high school to supplement her husband's pay of $3,500 a year as head of the investigation bureau.
He is also suvived by two sons, A. Bruce Bielaski Jr. and Robert C. Bielaski; two daughters, Miss Amelia D. Bielaski and Mrs. William Cornforth; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth B. Shipley, former head of the passport office of the State Department, and Mrs. Thomas Miller; a brother, Fred C. Bielaski; seven grandchildren and five great‐grandchildren.
Source: The New York Times, New York, New York, February 20, 1964
~~~~~~~~~~
Info for Amelia:
http://meyerhoff.goucher.edu/library/robin/index/mbb.htm
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