The New York herald., 1921-03-26
FRIENDS PROMISE
TO RAISE BAIL TO
FREE ROSENBLUTH
Ex-Captain Sees Mystery in
Connecting Him With
i CrOnkhite's Death.
SHOCKED BY ARREST
Prosecution Awaits Word
From State of Washing
ton on Bond Plea.
AN EXAMINATION TO-DAY
Prisoner Talks of Shooting Of
Major and Points to Flaws
in Governments Stand.
AN EXAMINATION TO-DAY

While the Government hesitated yes
terday 10 reveal its case against Robert
Eosenblutn, former Captain of the 21Sth
Engineers. charged in Federal war
Iant with completely in the murder OF
Major alexander r. Cronkhite. son OF
Major-Gen Adelbert Cronkh,te. counsel
for the accused man, continued efforts
to effect his release on bail. Recon-
incubation that bail be accepted for
Eosenbluth's appearance in the State
Of washington should he be brought to
trial on an Indictment charging him
with murder was withheld by Assistant
United States Attorney John Il. Joyce
pending receipt of further information
from the Washington authorities. a
motion for Rosenbuth's release on bail
probably will be made to-day or Mon
day at formal arrangement before
United States Commissioner Hitchcock
Major Cronkhite died as the result
of a bullet wound in the chest received
on october 20, 1918. at Camp Lewis
while ne was in charge OF company
or infantry engaged in pistol practice.
Roland PotlIier. n former sergeant, who
was attached to the headquarters COM
pany as orderly TO Major Cronkhite. is
said 10 have admitted that the shot
TlIdt hllitq his tOuiAlldkIAAEs VliNNA No~o
from his pistol. He is said to have
tod the Government agents he would
be willing TO plead guilty to charge
OF 'involuntary manslaughter" 1t was
following this development that Capt.
Rosenbluth was arrested three days ago
ct the Civic Club, Ii West Twelfth
street, where he makes his home.
Appreciates Acts or Friends.
a. a
be almost worth the experience to have
the evidences OF the sympathetic and
kind interest OF ones friends Rosen-
bluth said, after he had been grilled
for three hours BY the Government
prosecutor.
Capt. Rosenbluth says he is in ig-
norance OF what circumstances led the
Government to connect him with the
shooting. He admits that the autopsy
on Major Cronkhite's body may have
proved that the shot that killed him
could not have been fired in just the
manner he told the military court Of
INQUIRY was the case, but ne maintains
that what he testified to was accord
ing to the best OF his recollection at
Tho time OF the shooting. and that if
he had to tell the story over again he
would have 10 say the same thing. The
alleged confession Of Pothier, he says,
is a mystery to him. Rosenbiutl, how
ever, is confident he will be able to
shatter any chain OF circumstantial evil
dence the Government may present
against him Rosenbluth's version Of
the shooting was that bullet that
struck a metal can was DETECTED, hit
ting Major Cronkhfte.
The thing has gone so far now" he
said. that il will have TO be wiped
clean Off the boards"
-. u xl,,tl, 49, I.-ta =
lay Of facts to prove the weakness Of
;he Governments contention that Major
-onkhite's death was the result of
plot against him by his military asso-
,..es. They begin with the transfer
of Capt. Rosenbluth from Camp Forrest
In Georgia to Camp Lewis in Washing
ton which he says was made at Major
cionkhite's suggestion and recommenda-
tion. That took place about four weeks
before the shooting.
Soon after Rosenbluth arrived at Camp
Lewis Major Cronkhite was stricken with
influenza and was In the hospital until
two days before he went out on the
fatal pistol practice trip Then, accord
ing to Capt Rosenbluth, Major Cronk-
hite took command Of the battalion only
in an emergency, and was to be re-
iieved shortly by his colleague, Major
Ajax, who was to overtake the command
on horseback and Major Cronkhite, be-
cause Of his physician condition, was to
ride Major Ajax's mount back 70 camp.
Major Ajax, IL appears. did not get
started as soon as he expected. and
when he did ne lost the road, so that he
never did overtake the battalion. Had
he not lost his way Major Cronkhite
would have been back IN camp long be-
fore the time the shooting took place.