The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-18
CONSPIRACY CHARGED
BY HOUSE COMMITTEE
IN REPORT To CONGRESS
Colonels Hunt and Cres-
son Also Named-Find-
ings of Minority.

Washington, Aug. 1s.-Sam-
uel Tilden Ansel, formerly adj
y0cate general of the army,
and of the prisoners legal
counsel; Colonel John f. Hunt,
and Colonel G. G. CreSsOn,
were charged with conspiracy
in connection with the escape
of Grover Cleveland BergdOll,
the draft eyader, in a report
signed by three of the five
members of a special iDVesti-
eating committee, filed today
with the house.
Characterizing AnselI as
"the master mind in the plan
by which BergdOll was released
from a military prison under
guard, to dig up a pot of gold,
the majority report recon-
mended that he be diSbarred
from practicing in the courts
of the nation "abOVe whose
safety and integrity he has
placed gold"
A minority report filed at
the same time held, however,
that there was no testimony TO
support the charge that An
sell, through whose efforts as
counsel, the prisoner was re-
leased. "conspired to effectu-
ate his escape,- or that his
motive was improper.
BIames Hunt
One ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Luhring, of Indiana-and two Dem
Dcrats, Johnson of Kentucky, am
Flood of Virginia, signed the ma
jority report The minority view
were presented by Chairman Peter
of Maine, and Representative Nc
of Oregon, Republicans
The majority findings, the first O
ne many investigation reports sub
mitted to the house since the clos
of the war, was made possible b.
q Republican member joining will
Democrats and enabling them tC
lie majority views. The majority
report held that Colonel Hunt
of the barracks az
Island, from which
3ergdoll set out on his errand, was
lirectly responsible for the slack
,r's escape through failure TO
landcuff him or to provide an ade-
luate guard. The minority, after
declaring that no officer of the
.rmy knowingly participated in
he conspiracy" found grave dere-
iction of duty on the part of
Iunt"
Cress0n Criticized.
AS basis for its criticism of Col
mel Cresson, the majority report
aid that "as ugly as are the many
bases of the whole matter, none
, more defenseIess than the con-
uct of Colonel Cresson, in his pre-
ense of prosecution of Colonel
Lunt," tried by court martial in
with the BergdolI scan
al. No reference to Cresson was
lade by the minority.
Major Bruce r. Campbell. accus-
by Bergdoll's mother of having
ccepted $1,000 TO help obtain free
ON for the prisoner, was exoner-
ted by the majority. The minor
Y reported that there was not eyl-
ence that Campbell was in any
-ay connected with the escape,
ut assumed the proper military
would institute such
.vestigation as may be necessary,
, the end that Campbell may be
if not found guilty"
Dismissal from the department
Justice of Earl B. Wood, IN
narge of correspondence in the
ergdoll case, for failure to trans
lit to the war department warn
lg from a special agent that the
risoner was planning to escape,
as recommended by the majority.
Scores Harris.
Major General Peter G. Harris,
d dtutant general of the army, who
Hunt to send Bergdon,
nder guard, TO the Maryland noun
ains to search for the gold, was
harged by the majority with "pri-
.ary esponsibility for the situa-
on, which made possible the es-
ape"
Asserting that General Har-
(Copfjpua6 nm paUe Nine