Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-10
MRS. BERGDOLL
Continued from Page One)

There was no embargo at that time
on the withdrawal of government
gold, but the policy of the department
as explained by Alexander, was to
keep it in the vaults by placing Dip
! lomatic obstacles in the way Of peo-
pie seeking it,
Three weeks after his first visit
homig returned with Mrs. Beretloll.
1T was brought out that at the very
moment the woman was at the treas
urE Dig posters were displayed every .
whele Offering a reward for the can.
ture Of Bergdoll. the deserter
Romlng, satisfied with the results
or MS first trip, pushed a bundle of
Oils. almost as big as boy. through
the window, and after some DELAY
Alexander said, and with the approy-
al OF the treasurer. struggled down
the corridors with more gold than a
stevedore could l,ft--s60,O0 mostly
eagles.
what became of the trea sure after
the Romig- Bergdoll party left Wash.
tngton was not brought out at the six
hour session today The off hand
We" was expressed by Alexander
that treasury folk who, had discusse d
the withdrawal as the biggest GER
tainiy in their recollection, agreed
that Romig and the woman were for
eigners who feared the American
government might be overthrow and
hence We're eager to hoard their for
tune.
Counsel for Bergdoll already had
told the committee they had checked
on the tale of the gold and were con-
I, WINGED it had been taken from the
treasury and buried, and they were
impressed with the sincerity OF the
deserter that he wanted to recover
it,
The gold chapter was related just
after Major General March. chief of
staff of the army, had given his views
on the subject Of getting Bergdoll
back from Germany to serve his five
year sentence and had declared that
diplomatic moves now were under
way to get him.
Other witnesses during the day
OF Samuel T. Ansell, former acting
judge advocate general of the army
and counsel for Bergdoll. and Colonel
Julius A. Penn. assistant to Major
General Harris. adjutant general OF
the army.
Mr.. Bailey concluding his testi-
mony. reiterated that former Judge
John w. Wescott of New jersey. dis
cussed plans for the expedition to the
mountains before the escape Judge
Wescott has testified that he knew
nothing of any so-called buried treas
ure until he read it in the newspa :
pers after Bergdoll had eluded his
guards at Philadelphia a year ago.
Colonel Penn declared he had sug-
eested to the commandant of the dis
ciplinary barracks at Governors Is
land that a command officer be placed
in charge Of the guard accompanying
Bergdoll TO the mountains and that
the suggestion practically amounted
to an order" when Ansell applied to
General Harris for authority to per-
NIT Bergdoll TO make the search,
Colone! Penn said, the adiutant gen.
fTdl Sd ia IL " d. d GtsiSOfd bie 0QuSSI
by a responsible lawyer" and the wit
ness added that it SO appeared TO him
at the time.
General March declared that when
General Harris brought up the Ansell
request he only glanced at it, and
that it was approved by the latter
: who had full authority to such mat
tiers. But when word reached him OF
the escape. the military machinery
was set In action at once in the effort
to capture The convict