The New York herald., 1921-04-18
ANOTHER DRBYFUS
CASE IS HINTED in
CR0NKHlTE KILLING
Attorney General Orders
Probe on Demand of
Senator Calder.
MAY BARE SENSATION
Capt. ROsenbluth UnwOr-
ried Over Latest Confess
sion of Pothier.
WILL sSHOW UP SYSTEM
Dept. Of Justices Withdrawal
Adds to Mystery Over Ar
rests in Army Tragedy.
WILL sSHOW UP SYSTEM

All lnVeSuBdtlOIl Ol the uedtu u
Major Alexander P. Cronkhite, SON of
Brig. Gen. Adalbert Cronkhite at Camp
Lewis, Washington, in October, 1918.
and the recent arrests of former Capt.
Robert Rosenbluth and Sergeant Ro-
land p. Pothier has been ordered
by United States Attorney General
Daugherty at the request of United
States Senator William M. Calder.
1t was said that one of the reasons
for the decision to go into all the de-
tails Of the tragedy. was the sudden
announcement few days ago that. the
bureau Of investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice had turned over all
it's papers in the case to the of1iciais
of Tacoma. Wash. and apparently was
desirous Of withdrawing from the case.
Pothier, who was arrested at Provi-
dence March IS by agents of the De-
partment Of Justice, has made fve sep
arate confessions that he murdered
Major Cronkhite, according to informa-
ton received Saturday from j. w. Sci
den, Prosecutor OF Tacoma.
RosenbIuth out ON Bail.
In the last OF these confessions he
said he had been induced to Kill Major
Cronkhite by Capt Rosenbluth. the
motive for the killing. Mr.. Selden ad-
nitted, had not been supplied. Capt.
Rosenbluth is in this city, released un-
der $4,000 bail He was detained five
days in the Tombs without warrant.
according to his own statement. He
made a complete denial yesterday of
the charges in Pothicr's alleged confess
zion.
Senator Calder said last night
IL have asked the Department OF JUS
tice to make the most careful investi-
CATION as to all the facts in this case.
| have talked to one or the officers OF
the regiment who was friend of Major
Cronkhite. He is convinced that Rosen-
bluth is innocent. The Department of
Justice has begun the inquiry
"I have asked the Acknowledgement
TO go to the very bottom of this matter.
II Rosenbluth is guilty he ought to be
punished II innocent. the Department
Of Justice ought to let the world know
it"
Capt Rosenbluth's story, as given yes
terday, brings out certain circumstances
which appear to shroud his arrest in
mystery His contradiction of the latest
account reported to have been given by
Pothier Of the manner in which Major
CronlShite was killed varies in all essen
tiaI details from that Of the sergeant.
Capt. Rosenbluth was in Washington
last week and demanded fair hearing.
He said an agent Of the bureau Of inves-
tigation had tried to make him admit
that. although he personally was inno-
cent he was trying to shield Pothier
from trouble by insisting that Major
Cronkhite died by a seif-infiicted wound
Another Dreyfus Case Hinted.
The arrest of Capt Rosenbluth and
the transfer OF the investigation to the
State of Washington have given rise.
according to reports from Washington
last night. that the investigation by the
Department Of Justice may result in
one of the biggest sensations In official
circles in years. There was a sugges-
tion that the inquiry might reveal an
other Dreyfue case. but this was not
said openly.
Capt. RosenDluth spent several hours
yesterday at the home Of his attorney.
Jonah J. Goldstein. He said he was
confident that he would not suffer per-
sonaliy in connection with the case. but
that his present object was to show up
the system" by which his arrest had
been caused and reports circulated by
Government agents that he had shady
past
"The findings at the autopsy and by
the board OF inquiry Immediately after
Major Cronkhites death were that he
was killed accidentally said Capt.
Rosenbluth while can appreciate the
feelings Of his father. Brig.-Gen. Cronk-
hite. there never was any evidence TO
warrant the exhumation and the strange
investigation by Government agents
which has followed.
THE idea that plotted with Pothier
for the death OF Major Cronkhite four
days before the shooting, as reported
In Pothier's latest confession, II absurd.
Four days before his death Major Cronk-
hite was III in the camp hospital with
influenza. The day of the tragedy
WAS In command OF a skeleton regiment
20 do some field problems map drawing,
practice with field kitchens and other
work.
Pothicr from headquarters because no
other men were available, as Capt. Caf-
fey at headquarters has testified. Cronk-
hise paid no attention To the work OF
tho regiment. and left me in command.
noticed him some distance off. and a
few minutes later when ! heard a shot
halted the men and went TO investi-
gate. Major CronShite was firing at o.
tin can he had put on top Of post
Capt Rosenblu'h said that as he APP
preached Major Cronkhite turned. ex-
claiming, II got Il that time" and then
FELL saying. MY God, I'm shot,
The reports Of the two Inquiries made
into Major Cronkhites death the next
day, said Capt. Rosenhuth, were that
Major Cronlhites arm had been bent
close TO his head when he turned about,
and the revolver had accidentally ex-
ploded. The bullet went into his right
lung.
There was no suspicion whatever at
any time after the shooting. Capt.