Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-26
CONGRESS MAY ACT
I IN BERGDOL[ CASE.
rdmonds Says He Will Ask
Probe IL War Department
Doesn't Catch Stacker
QUESTIONS ANsELL'S ACTION

Ry a star Correspondent =.
u,,hinoton, May 2G.--Congressional
,m'stigation Of the Bcrgdoll case was
ihnsooontcned today from two sources.
niD,""rrnsentativc George W, EdmQnds,
panublican. of Philadelphia, ~ whose
hIisipr;ct the Bergdolls formerly hyeu
amJ still maintain resluencei Ge
cIaILr" iIouse calling for thorough in
IN ,irction ,nr into Bergdoll's escape and
',s ,DS;rcumstanccs surrounding It,, 'un,
NV ,i,o War Department soon showed
rss ' If nrourcss toward npprebcnding
MN. REPRESENTATIVE Edmonds said he
.'id whit n few, days to give the de-
W.r,ont Wour n chance to find Bergdoll be-
no asking congressional probe and
Io,. I,.;',a army officers. War Department
ps;oiaIe and Bergdoll's attorneys on the
o,nnd in an effort TO fix responsibility
for his escape.
Interested in Ansell
Closely following this development,
1, wns learned that Representative Fms
I Garrett. Of Tennessee. one OF the
democratic leaders of the House and
n,inority member of the select House
lDml1ltIpP lUNfSllSutihb 'h' 'Oh"uN' w.
Tho war. has under consideration a. sim
liar resolution aimed at discovering the
relations between Bergdoll and his at =
torncys and their knowledge. If any, of
tbc family plans for the disposal of
large property interests about the time
of Bcrgdoll's second disappearance.
Garrett is understood to be particularly
interested in the connection of former
Judgc Advocate General William Il.
AnscI with the case. in view of his
employment by the Graham invcstigat- :
ing committee as special counsel at a
salary of $4,000 year, to assist the
committees war Investigations.
Il have no desire to cmbarrass the
War department or Bcrgdoll's attor
ncys in their efforts to apprchcnd him, -
representative Edmonds said.
AT the same time | think con :
grCssional Investigation might serve to
throw some light on the case and fix
responsibility for Bcrgdoll's escape more
definitely than it has been fixed by the
various conflicting statements that have
been issued.
1T is my intention to give the M =
thoriticS a reasonable opportunity 70
find Bcrgdoll or develop some clue that
gives promise Of his capture. should
they fail in their efforts. or should in :
trrcSt in the pursuit appear to lag.
shall present a resolution in the House
In a few days providing for full in
quiry into all the facts and connection
Of all individuals with Bergdoll's af-
fairs" ..
Is Considering Probe
Representative .Garrett admitted he
was considering demand for. an
Investigation, but refused otherwise to
discuss the case. He has been follow
ing developments since the escape, and
Is known to be, Interested im Ansell's
activities in obtaining Bergtell's TEN :
porary release from prison, while still
connected with the Graham commit
toe.
So far as tho Washington dcyelop-
mcntS are concerncd, the situation
stands now as follows: aut25 ~. T.
Anscll admits he arranged for Berg
dolls trip to Philadelphia. believing his
story that he wanted to recover S15O. e
0OO in gold supposed to have been hid
den near HagerstOwn, Md.
Adjutant General p. c. Harris admits
granting permission for Bergdoll's trip,
put says it was specifically understood
Borgdoll was not to be taken to his
home.
Secretary Of War Baker. although
denying all knowledge of the plan for
BcrgdoIIS trip until after he had cs-
capped, admits official responsibility as
head of the War Department for the
acts of his subordinate.
Moral responsibility for Bergdoll's
capture is placed by Adiutant General
Harris on Ansell and Colonel Edward
y Bailey, his law partner, who have
offered II total of $4,000 reward for in =
formation leading to Bcrgdoll's capture
Or his return to military custody.
department. of Justice officials declare
army officers were informed beforehand
OF B"rSdol Is hope of escape and of a
pot to make his getaway.
,, TINS Secretary Baker and other War
department officials deny.
Colonel A. Il. Coke. director of the
division Of investigation of the Military
ihtclllg"ncc Service, is conducting an
IhVestlgatlon into the case for the War
department, under order of Secretary
Baker.
The War. State and Navy Depart
m'htS and the Department of Justice
at" co operating in efforts to find Berg
doLl and return him to prison to serve
our his five year sentence.
AnSell and Bailey disclaim any con =
nrruon with Bergdol's affairs other
,nan @ that they were retained for his
Wlai and to arrange for his release
prIor to his escape. They are obviously
puGh purh worried by his fight. Ansell and
M1all"H also declare Judge John W.
ppeScotl was associate counsel in the
n'rgdoiI case, despite his denial of any
connection with it.
WTnlr,alS express confidence that Berg
0',l will be captured.
onrIcd"raI agents investigating Borg
UolI escape have virtually discarded
.nr theory that he may have escaped by
iva ana are concentrating on the
uStio"ln'SlS that he had an airplanc in
"E %Eamh,ng .hg for him and literally flew out
nn,i IS understood that. Canadian au
t,Noritios have been enlisted in Tho search
Tor the draft dodgcr. - =. ''' ''"' "
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