The New York herald., 1921-03-25
STERN DISCIPLINE
COST CRONKHITE
LIFE,NEW THEORY
Soldier Father OF Slain
Major Sees Revenge Back
Of Shooting.
ARRAIGN ROSENBLUTH
Former Captain Scouts
Charge = Has Further
Hearing Tomorrow.
WIDENED PLOT IS SEEN
Investigators Admit Mystery
Is Deep. Hint Others May
Be Involved.
WIDENED PLOT Is SEEN

Developments yesterday tended TO
deepen rather than clear the mystery
surrounding the arrest of Robert
Rosenbluth, formerly a Captain Of
Engineers iii the United States Army,
pno IS charged with killing Major
Alexander r. Cronkhite, son of Major
Gen. Adelbert Crpnkhite, U. S. A, at
Camp Lewis. Washington. October 25.
1913.
Rosenoluth was. arraigned yesterday
before United States Commissioner
Hitchcock on a Federal warrant but
hearing on the case was postponed
until tomorrow morning. pending de-
velopments in Washington.
Following Rosenbluth,s arraignment,
Assistant United States Attorney John
r. Joyce said the Government had In
~ possession evidence sufficient to
hold Rosenbluth on the charge of muir
der. but that the details and the mo-
tive for the shooting could not be dis
cussed al this time. There were hints
of evidence to show the existence of
plot involving other besides Rosen
bluth and former Sergeant Roland
Pothier. who was arrested at Provi-
dence r. L., several days ago. At the
time of his arrest. Department of Jus
t,ce officials said Pothier expressed
willingness to plead guilty to a charge
Of Involuntary manslaughter." admit
ting Ii was shot from his automatic
pistol that accidentally killed Major
CronRhite.
IN the other hand. it was learned yes
rcrday that Jonah j. Goldstein, 366
Broadway. counsel for Rosenbluth. is
hopefui or ootaining bail for his client
to-oay It was said he had an assur-
ance from Assistant United States At
torney Joyce that he would recommend
tho acceptance or bail. This might seem
10 Indicate the Governments case against
supposed
Father Suspected Crime.
The military court OF inquiry that in
vestgated the death OF Major Cronkhite
accepted the theory of accidental shoot
ing by his own hand. The dead officers
father, however, was reluctant TO accept
this finding and was instrumental In
having his sons body exhumed An
autopsy. IL IS said, indicated that he
could not have fired the shot that killed
MIN. and ii Is on this finding that the
mystery hinges. At the time OF the
shooting Major Cronkhte, with Capt.
Bosenbluth, Sergeant Pothier and other
members Of the command. were en-
gagged in pistol practice at Camp Lewis.
The three named were off TO one side In
.Nu 49,. rzNu A1
was discharged and Major Cronkhite
dropped with bullet through his chest.
One Of the extraordinary features of
the case, II Pothiers reported willing
ness TO accept responsibility for acci-
dental shooting stands, Is the statement
made 70 Department OF Justice officials
Yesterday BY Capt. Rosenhluth. Capt.
Rosenoluth declared he could not under
stand how, shot from Pothier's gun
could possibly have killed Major Cronk-
hte, because he was standing between
the two men when the shot was fred.
Capt. Rosenbluth. who was arrested at
the Civic Club IA West Twelfth street,
where he lives, yesterday expressed hls
Willingness to return to Tacoma immedi-
stely and face any charges the Govern
ment might have against him. He re-
scented the element OF mystery the Gov
ernmcnt attaches 10 his connection with
the case. and told his counsel that only
last week he went TO the headquarters OF
the Department Of Justice IN Washing
ton and told officials where he was AMI
where he could be found.
Accuscd's Friends Active.
That Rosenbluth Is not without friends
who have confidence in him Is indicated
b. the number OF letters his lawyers re-
ceived yesterday since news Of his arrest
was published These letters for tho
most part wero from influential persons
who said they were familiar with the
fine quality Of the relief work Roseubluth
performed In Europe following his dis
charge from the army. For two years
Roscnbluth was connected with toe Joint
distributing Committee. OF which Felix
VI Warburg Is chairman, and. according
u his attorney. his accounts balanced 10
cent.
when he was arralgned yesterday
Miss Katharine Bement Davis, former
Commissioner of Correction. for whom
Bosenbiuth worked. appeared with
George y. Worthington or the Bureau
of Social Hl giene and offered 10 do any
thiug possible Tor the accused man even
to the point Of retaining counsel She
spoke Of hs record ana declared the
charge against nim TO be preposterous.
Government officials would not say
yesterday whether Bosenbluths arrest
vas the direct result of information
given by former Sergeant Pothier, al
though The way was loft open for that
inference The suggestion was that
Major Crcukhite had been an especially
se we're discipliuarian ana that rome of
Ills subordinate plotted 10 got him out
~ the waq II t could I'D done m way
that would boar tta o3peHrance or be-
tvv accidental n Is believed this Is tho
theory shared by Majot-Gen. Cronkhito.
capt EosenDiuth was at one time a.
rector 0f the Boys Reformatory Of New
York State under Commissioner Davis
tIc nas spent much time III work Of re-
lief or social nature. bis father having
been for many years superindent ~ the
Hebrew Hoapitai of Philadelphia. Capt
Rosenbluth tended training camp at
TiattsburE II talf aud was commits
stoned in the engineers on nis return
from France he was on Instructor Ell
Camp Forrest u Georgia and later Gt
Camp Lewis. since his discharge from
The army BE Is understood to have sue
ressfulls undertaken another ooafiden-
tial mission 81 Europe Tor another de-
nartmeut ~ the Government Pending
word from the Department ~ Justice
Rosenbiuh sponi last night IN the
Tombs. but Attorney Goldsteil e hope
fui of obtaining his release early to-day