The Alaska daily empire., 1921-05-16
''POT OF COLD" LOOMS LARGE IN
 HOUSE INQUIRY
Committee Fails in Efforts to Learn Location of
 Bergdoll Treasure.

WASHINGTON, May It. -- Mrs, Emma Bergdoll, mother of Grover C. Bergdoll, Philadelphia draft evader whose escape to Germany last sum mer is under investigation by a House committee, told the committee Saturday that she buried $l50,000 Tn gold in the fall of 1917 but re fused to indicate the hiding place other than to indicate that it was near Philadelphia.
 Bergdoll obtained his release unde' guard from Fort Jay, N. J. to search for a pot of gold"
 Samuel T. Ansell, former acting judge advocate general of the army who as counsel for Bergdoll, was in strumental in obtaining his release also was examined. by the committee
 Buried in Maryland.
 Doubt as to where the pot of golt was hidden was cleared up to some extent and by Ansell's explanation mountaineers of West Virginia migh as well give up the search. Berg doll, it was said, told his lawyers that the burial place was somewhere n the mountains of Maryland. Its ocation was not revealed beyond he word of the dodger that it was put from Hagerstown."
 John H. Sherburne of Boston. coun sel for the committee, knows about DarnInll cold if hi6lar but there was no intimation that the location would be made public, to become a mecca for treasure hunt CTS.
 Ansell insisted that his first knowl edge of the $150,000 in gold, obtained from the Treasury by Bergdoll's people, came from the late D. Clar ance Gibboney, of Philadelphia, oi counsel for Bergdoll. The witness declared he relied on the statement ,f Gibboney and former Judge John w. Wescott of New Jersey. Judge Westcott testified that he knew lothing of the gold until after Berg dolls escape.
 AnseII Explains.
 The witness was asked if it was not an extraordinary obligation on his part to tell Mai Gen. Harris Adjutant-General of the army, that l,e stood personally responsible for Bergdoll's return to prison.
 'Tt was very unfortunate" Ansell replied, "but l did not think 1t ex traordinary at that time.
 Feneral Harris did not expect me to guard the man. I imposed conf dence in Gibboney to carry out Gen Harris instructions.
 "Has it occurred to you that a de liberate deception was practiced rel atiye to counsel going with the prisoner?" Representative Ben John son, Democrat, Kentucky, asked.
 "I don't think so," was the an swer.
 Some Hot Exchanges.
 MT Johnson insisted that Ansel had not kept faith with Genera Harris because of failure to notify him of plans for the trip and there were some hot exchanges betweer Johnson and the witness.
 After further questioning, MT. John son said: "I don't believe we art going to get anywhere on the ques ton of specific aid you gave in re demption of your pledge. so I'll droI it."
 Mir. Ansell broke in, declaring i unfair.
 "So help me God" he shouted. '" was actuated by only one motive. did what was possible to apprehenf the prisoner. I have no fear of in vestigation or prosecution"
 Others Defended.
 MT. Johnson brought out that since he left the army MT. Anseil had con ducted several cases against the gov ernment and then asked: Would you have defended Rene dict Arnold?"
 q am not familiar with the Rene (Continued on Page Seven.