Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-19

ed to throw the weight OF its influence
behind the adoption Of the majority re-
port of Mr.. Johnson
The tenor of the two reports reflects
the differences between the members of
the committee apparent through most Of
the hearings in the Investigation These
were notable particularly toward the end
of the investigation when Mr. Johnson
was at variance with Gen. John H.
Sherburne the committee counsel, who
was responsible chiefly to Mr.. Peters the
chairman.
While both reports agree there was a
conspiracy to bring about the escape Of
Bergdoll, they differ considerably on
where the responsibility should be placed.
Insofar as these conclusions are based on
clrcumstantial evidence, there is further
reason to believe the House will hesitate
to accept the recommendations of the ma =
jority. OF these, outstanding is the rec
ommendation that Mr.. Ansell he disbarred
forever from practicing before Federal
departments and courts, military and
civil.
Both reports condemn the conduct of
Col. John f. Hunt, who was In command
OF Governors Island prison when Berg
doll was released, but only the majority
report recommends that his annuity of
So 600 as a retired officer be discontinued.
The majority report alone goes into the
court martial Of Colonel Hunt and con-
dennis the prosecution by Col @. e. Cres-
son, while the minority report. stating
it fails to see how Colonel Hunt could he
acquitted. refers the matter to the War
Department The dismissal Of Earl Il.
Wood from the Department of Justice IS
recommended by the majority alone.
MAKE ATTACK on REPRE-
SENTATIVE LUHRING GND).
The statement issued by Ansell &
/ Bailey. law partners, follows:
I "A majority Of Republicans of the com
mlttee which, Investigated the Bergdoll
case, in their report ind that our con-
nectiOn with that case was a professional
one was innocent of any wrong and that
our motives were proper. We accept that
report The two Democratic members,
johnson Of Kentucky and Flood If vir-
Cluia. aided by Representative Luhring,
whose presence in Congress is one Of
those freaks that politics occasionally
foists on the people, In their report ma
! liciously assume what they want TO prove
I and then craftily pervert the evidence to
J that end.
The Johnson report Is characteristic
/ Of the unbalanced mind Of It's author. 1t
/ is a wholesale Incorporate Indictment OF
ell except q few who were close 90 the
Democrats Administration. II starts IN
/ by assuming guilt and then falsifes
I every circumstance to ft that assumption.
I Johnson Is known fVherever he is Known
as a man Of such Violent and vicious TEN
per as 70 nullify any finding he must
+ make IN any investigation. General
/ ArseU gained the bitter enmity OF Flood
when ne called public attention 20 the
crusltieS inflicted upon tens OF thousands
. Of enlisted men iu the 4 rmy and the
{ corrt martial system which Floods close
! friend. ex-Secretarv Baker. defended and
again as counsel for an Investigating
/ committee which subjected many OF
I Bakers methods to scathlng publicity
Flood bad so frequently, before the BERG
( doll Investigation, launched the bittereS'
! attacks upon General Ansell that any
{ sense Of decency would have precluded
his sitting on the Investigating committee
l. what sinister influence induced Rep
/ resantative Luhring 70 abandon ais
party associates and sign the Johnson
/ Flood report. we refrain from discussing
at this time.
/ I'm riew 81 the fact that after com
plete Investigation we were eTouersted
. hv the Inspector General OF the United
states Army and the further fact that
the United states attorney az Philadel-
phia submitted all Of the evidence &c the
grand Jury and no condemnation To-
suited. we are confident the public viii
know how little Importance 10 attach To
the prejudiced finding OF Ben Johnson
! and his associates
The Johnson Flood report win only
be entitled 70 respect when man Is to
be denied defense by competent lawyers
because his case is unpopular The au-
{ thor Of this report either has con
/ tempt for the American Constitution OF
forgets that recently an Overwhelming
majority Of the people directed a re-