Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-05-04
HURlS CHALLENGE
At A. 7. ANS{[l
Veteran Lawyer Dares
Other to Personal
Encounter
CLASH ON TESTIMONY
Argument Over Bergdoll Case
Former y. ]. Attorney General
Brands Statement as, Untrue.

Washington, May 4.-John ". Wes-
colt, former A:torney-Gencra! of New
Jersey, today passed the lie direct to
Samuel T. Ansell, former acting
Judge Advccata a-Gene1al Of the Army
and challenged him to repeat his test
mony outside the room where House
committee was investigating the eS-
cape Of Grover Cleveland Bergdoli,
Ph. .adelphia draft cicdger.
Ansell had just reiterated under
cath that Judge Wesc0.t had ocen en-
gagged as associate counsel 10 hep get
BergGoll out OF prison after ne had
evaded the draft for nearly two years,
Judge Wescaut, y years old, but
bread CT shoulder and AT least SIX feet
tail. with shock Of snow white hair
leaped to his feet, his eyes flashing
fire.
| "I wan; to tell the witness TO hia
teeth t::,at he knows what he says is
not true. He hasn't the courage-phy-
sical, moral or mental-;o follow me
o.aty'de this committee room, regard
less of MY age, and make such state
mem: to my face he declared.
Mr.. .A.nsell protested that if there
was to be a debate he Should be al
lowed to take part.
Seeming the possibility Of a clash
Chairman Peters quickly stepped in,
but net ,;rtil Judge Wescott had fired
few more shots. Then, picking up
his hat, he walked out with smiling
Wen, good-by gentlemen.
Previously Judge Wescott had
denied THAT there was Il shred Of truth
in a statement made by the late u.
| Clarence Gi5boney, of Philadelphia,
that he had oeen employed in the Berg
d.l! case AMI paid 81 $50 for his ser
vices. Judge Wescott declared he never
went 10 see Secretary of War Baker
in Be:gdoll's behalf, as Mr., AnSe!I
lad testified, and said that he knew
r:.hing whatever Of the s.ory OF Berg
Gcll's buried gold until he read it IN
the ewSpapcr after the prisoners es-
cape. Earlier in the day Mr.. Anse!l
had testified that Judge Wesrott, az
c,rs cf the defense attorneys, mad dis
cussed with GDboney and h;m=ef the
question of urging the War Depart
me7M t. permit the dodgers release
under gard to 60 out and find it.
The fact was mentioned that the
Judge was warm friend Of Secre-
tary Baker ard that he was the man
who had paced Wccdrow Wilson in
nomination for President 1ath at the
Baltimore and 81. Louis conventions
Judge Wcscot. declared his only par,
in the ease was the sending 10 MI
Baker of a letter inclCs:ng the An
sell brief in the Bergdoll appeal
which ne regarded as brilliant dc
cumen,. ard one which should have the
Secresary's personal consideration.
Going hack to the tale of the burie:
gold, Judge Wescott, looking Mr.. An
sell squarely in the eye. exclaimed,
Il never heard of II until it came
OFT with The news of Bergdoll's eS
cape. ! would suppose that if mar
of Mr.. :anselfs ability could get tha
crazy idea in his head, and in view o
what happened, he would have LET
the community"
Depreca1ing the fact that two meI
could hc at such variance as to th'
. facts ana lacking the right Of cross
examination, Judge Wesco:t sad n
wanted u re;;erate in Ansel's pres
, ence. land in his very teeth" that tn
later knew when he testified tha
! statements concerning him were uil
: t,-ue The Judge told the comm!tte
.Ansell lad refused TO recognize h:l
!, in the room, wnen they were only
a few feae apart. which led 10 muc
$ questioning and to the remark b
=. Judge WeScott that the lawyer mus
y have been ccnsiiouS then of maxim
I statements he rad no authority {
make.
y But all doubt as to personal re!a
Il ions between the two was cleare
away later by Ansell who said h
II bad refused to see Judge Westcot
! with Gi't oney some time ago an
Continued on page three)