Arizona republican., 1921-05-04
JUDGE WESCOTT
 DENIES AIDING
 bERGDQLL MAXI: PRISON ESCAPE
New Jersey Man Questions
 Veracity of Ansell in Testimony Before House Investigating Committee
[RepubIIcan AZ Leased wIreI

WASHINGTON. May s-A sharp question of veracity arising between Samuel R. Ansell, former acting judge advocate general of the army and former Judge John w. Wescott of New Jersey, created excitement today at the investigation by house committee of the escape of Grover Bergdoll, draft deserter.
 Called to the stand before MT. An sell, counsel for Bergdoll had com pleted his statement, Judge Wescott. who is 72. denied the testimony Of Ansell in two essential details and declared there was no truth in the report that he had been engaged as associate counsel. as Ansell had stated to help get Bergdon from prison after he had evaded the draft for nearly two years.
 As the judge went back 10 his seat, MT. Ansell wto had heard part of the denial, reiterated under oath that every word of his testimony was true. Just as his examination was about to shift to other channels, Chairman Peters, Turning to the judge asked if he desired 70 be heard.
 The judge was on his feet instantly Moving over toward the table across from which Mir Ansell sat and re- fusing to be seated for five minutes he let loose a torrent of denial de- claring Ansell lacked the courage to step outside and make the same charges. In the midst of the verbal attack. MT. Ansell broke in with the demand that if it was to be debate he wanted the right to speak.
 Seeing possibilities of an impend- ing clash, Chairman Peters quickly stopped the discussion. but not until the judge had fired a few more shots Then. picking up his hat. he walked out, with a courteous and smiling.
 well goodbye, gentlemen
 First denying there was a shred Of truth in the statement made by the late Clarence Gibbony of Philadelphia 1 that he had been employed in the Bergdon case and paid s1.25o. Judge | Wescott declared he never went to see Secretary Baker in Bergdolfs be- half, as Anseu had testified. and that | he knew nothing of the story Of Bergdolrs buried gold until he read i of it in the newspapers Earlier Mir. | AnseIl had testified that Judge Wes- colt, as a defense attorney had dis cussed with Gibbony and himself tl,e 1 question of urging the war depart | ment to permit the dodgers release ! under guard 10 go and find it.
 The fact was mentioned that ths 1 judge was a warm friend of Secre- | tary Baker and that he was the mar 1 who had twice placed Woodrow Will
 son in nomination for president 1 Judge Wescott declared his only part l in the case was the sending to Mir | Baker of a letter enclosing the Ansell
 brief in the Bergdoll appeal. which he | regarded as a brilliant document and one which should have the secretary s consideration.
 Going back to the buried gold Judge Wescott, looking Mir. Ansell in | the eye. exclaimed:
 T never heard of it until it came l out with the news of Bergdolfs es- | cape. I would supposce if a man of ! MT. Ansells ability could get crazy ideas in his head. and in view of what l happened, he would have left the | community"
 Deprecating the fact that two men | could he at such variance as to the l facts. Judge Wescott said he wanted
 to reiterate in Anselrs presence and
 in his very teeth" that the latter
 knew when he testified that state
 ments concerning him were untrue Il The judge said Ansell had refused te
 recognize him when they were oniy
 few feet apart, which led to mucf
 questioning and to the remark b5 Judge Wescott that the lawyer must
 have been conscious then of malSina
 statements he had no authority t.
 make.
 But all doubt as to personal rela- tions between the two was cleared later by Mir Ansell who said he had
 refused to see Judge Wescott witf Gibbony some time ago and neTel l wouId meet him again.