New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-19
Hunt and Cresson Also
Accused in Majority
Report of Conspiracy
in Pot-of-Cold Flight
Minority Absolves.
of Bribery Charge
General Issues Statement
Denying Guilt and Hot
ly Denouncing Critics
From The Tribune's Woshinoton Bu

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S.-In report
MED with the House to-day by the ma
Jorlty of the special investigating com
mlttee which has been probing the
escape from custody of Grover Cleve-
land Bergdoll, draft evader, it is recon
mended that Samuel Tilden Ansell.
former acting advocate general of the
army, be disbarred from practice in
the courts of the nation General An
sell is characterized as "the master
mind in the plan by which Bergdoll
was released from military prison to
search for pot Of gold" in II, Mary
land mountains.
General Ansell, with Colonel John +.
Hunt, former commandant of the dis
clpllnary barracks at Governors Island,
and Colonel c. C. Cresson, of the pris-
oner's counsel, are charged with con-
splracy in connection with Bergdol's
escape The majority report charges
that Bergdoll, who escaped from the
military authorities May 20, 1920, was
enabled to get away through the mis-
doing of somebody other than the Berg
doll family and their immediate asso-
ciates." This report is signed by Rep
resentativcs Johnson, Democrat. of
Kentucky; Lushring, Republican, Of
Indiana, and Flood, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia.
Minority Report AbsoIves Army
A minority report signed by Repre-
sentative Peters, Republican, Of Maine.
chairman Of the investigating commit
tee, and Representative McArthur, Re-
publican, Of Oregon, holds that the CON
spiracy which resulted in the escape of
Bergdoll was participated in by Berg
yer of Philadelphia; by Judge Romig,
who is friend of the Bergdou family;
by Ike Stecher, the chauffeur of Berg
doll, and by Mrs. Emma Bergdoll,
mother Of the draft-dodger. The minor
ity report holds that no army officer.
on-commissioned officer, private, OF
any person connected with the army or
of the disciplinary barracks, "received
any bribe or was approached with a
view Of bribery in connection with this
escape"
AS to General Ansell and Colonels
Hunt and Cresson, the ma ajority report
nolds they were Infinitely more cul-
pabe than the rest"
Major Bruce R. Campbell, of Lex
ington, Ky, who was summoned before
the commission on the strength of in
timations that he received $4,000 from
Mrs. Bergdoll, was exonerated in both
reports. Colonel Thomas w. Miller,
Alien Property Custodian, is COM
mended in the majority report for
seizing the Bergdoll property The
majority expresses the hope he will
make efforts to recover the gold which,
as Mrs. Bergdol alleges, has been
buried on a farm near Philadelphia.
Il -. Nv L L.
day Of the minority report, the law
firm of Ansell g. Bailey issued state
ment approving it, but denouncing in
strong language the majority report.
Chamberlain Defends Lawyers
The defense of the two lawyers was
also taken up by former Senator
man of the Military Affairs Committee,
and now a member Of the Shipping
Board
The majority report says Of Colonel
Hunt:
Colonel Hunt, within the next two
months after he had participated 80
criminally in the escape of Bergdoll,
was promoted from major to colonel
and Immediately retired on the pay Of
$4,000 a year. 1t becomes a serious
question who is to pay this lifelong
reward 1Or MS perhdy.
Those whose backs already are bur.
dered with the most onerous tax ever
imposed must contribute and in add-
ton, more than 100000 of our soldier
boys must, throughout Colonel Hunts
remaining years, contribute to this mu-
nifcent retirement fund in recognition
only of his instrumentality in this ma
tional tragedy. An outraged public has
the right to demand that Colonel
Hunts annuity be discontinued"
Dismissal of Wood Urged
The majority report further recon-
mended Dismissal from the govern
ment service of Earl b. Wood, who
had charge Of the Bergdol correspond
erce in the Department of Justice. He
was charged with concealment Of cer-
tain letters. The majority recommends
that he 0e disqualified forever from
holding any appointiye government Of
fee.
Discussing the passing of money in
the case, the majority say:
"The eye Of man is far more easily
deceived chan is his mature reasoning
end calm Judgment. Money may pass
from hand to hand in an instant and
at some obscure place and not be seen
While the passing of it may be proved
Continued on next pagc)
Discovered HReEafivitv',