Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-18
BERGDOLL CASE
|. REPORTS HEARD
Conspiracy Charge is Made
Against Former Judge and
Two Army Officers
MINORITY REPORT DIFFERS
Maj. Campbell is Exonerated
minority Charges Col.
Hunt With Responsibility
MINORITY REPORT DIFFERS
II. The Associated Press. ]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S.-Sam-
uel Tilden Ansell, former judge ad-
vocate general of the army and
prisoners legal counsel, Col. John
Hunt and Col. ]. ]. Cresson were
charged with conspiracy in connec-
tion with the escape of Grover Cleve-
land Bergdoll, in a report signed by
three of the five members of the in
vestigation committee which has
been submitted to the House.
Characterizing Ansell as the mas
ter mind in connection with Berg
dolls release, the majority report
recommended that he be disbarred
from practising in the court of the
nation above whose integrity he has
placed gold.
A minority report held, however,
that there was no testimony to sup
port the charge that Ansell, through
whose efforts as counsel, the prison
er was released. conspired to bring
about the escape.
One Republican, Representative
Lubring of Indiana, and two Demo-
Gratis, Johnson of Kentucky and
Flood of Virginia. signed the maicr-
ity report. The minority views wece
presented by Chairman Peters of
Maine and Representative Macarthur,
Oregon, Republicans. The majority
finding was the first of a number OF
reports submitted to the House
Republican joined with Democrats in
reaching n decision.
Major Bruce Campbell, accused by
Bergdoll's mother of accepting S..
900 to obtain her sons freedom, wa
| ordered eXonerated.
! The Conpla int against Earl b
| Wood, in charge of correspondence
in BergdoIl case, for failure to trans
port to the war department wore
that Bergdoll was planning to es
cape, was ordered discharged.
The minority charged Col. Hum
with primary responsibilities for the
situation which made possible the
escape.
The majority reported that the
escape was the direct result of the
proposition submitted by Ansell to
General Harris, and even If Ansell
did not conceive the plan, he pre-.
sented and pursued it to its accom-
pliShment."
Taking up connections of John
w. Wescott, former judge and one
time attorney general of New Jer-
Sty, lilc Itlti II
pcrtant that he represented Berg
doll, the committee claiming Ansell
used Wescott's name to obtain polit-
ical backing to gain the release
which at last spelled escape.
The majority report commended
the seizure Of the Bergdoll property
by Alien Custodian Miller and urged
that every effort be made to seize
S105,000 in gold obtained by Mrs
Bergdoll from the treasury depart
ment and which it is believed has
been buried on the estate in Phila-
delphia. Representative Lubrine
pushed this action.
The minority held that while "un-
questionnbly a conspiracy existed tC
effect the escape it did not find that
any officer received any bribe or was
approached with a view to bribery
but that the conspiracy was taken
part in by Grover Cleveland Berg
doll, ID. Gibboney, a Philadelphia
lawyer; James T. .Romig, formerly a
Philadelphia magistrate; Ike ste
cher. the Bergdoll chauffeur and
possibly Mrs. Bergdoll." On this
point the majority ruled Gibboney
and the Bergdoll group led. but il
was necessary to have the assist
ance of Ansell and Edward S. Bal
/ ley, his law partner. and Col Hunt
for without the aid of these latter
Bergdoll could not have left Gov
eInor's Island.