New-York tribune., 1921-03-27
Gave First Aid
TO CrOnkhite.
! Captain Says
Ayers He and
!, Slain Major We're Friends
4 and He Is Accused Because
1 He Was Present at Time
Doesn't Know Pothier
Bugler Who Pleaded Guilty
/ to Shooting Brought Here
!. to Face New Defendant

Il I'D TdCC 1\CW OClCkAtsdllt
4 Robert. Rosenbluth, former captain
M the 2i3th Engineers, yesterday reit-
Grated that he was in no way concerned
With the shooting of Major Alexander
F. Cronkhite at Camp Lewis, Washing
tbn, on October 25, 1918. He was ar
rested in connection with the killing
three days ago.
I II an, being held simply because
happened to be there when the major
was shot," he said. 81 was the ranking
gfficer sat the time of the accident and
vas - chsrge. OF course, being in
somrS2hd I was at the head of the
EolurAf And was paying very little at
4entitH TO Major Cronkhite, who was
some "a stance ahead. He was firing at
= tin can, and the first | knew that he
Aad bea1 wounded was when he cried,
s3My GNf! I'm shot!' Immediately
nushed forward and did what / could
Hor him: tore open his shirt and at
Once dispatched an orderly for a doc
stor"
Il Concerning Bugler Sergeant Pothier,
iwho is held also for the shooting, Cap
.tain Rosenblith said:
!. "As far as Pothier. is concerned. I
iwould not know him if l we're to meet
shim. Since being discharged / have
Ihot heard from any of. the men of the
soutfit and do know the address Of
sPne of Them. To-day did see book
if.ontain1ng the pictures Of several of
ifhe men of the old regiment, and Poth-
ipgnize him. Being attached to head.
quarters company (meaning Pothier)
ibid not come in contact with him often
senough to become acquainted with
shim."
Il Will See It Through
Il II intend to see this thing through
lland clear myself. The statement that
tl1 would not talk after my arrest is ali
ss'bunk.' / talked to the Department of
HJustice agents and, in fact, l remarked
|. that I wished they would remind me to
L tell the chief that l was present when
4 Cronkhite was shot.
Il This happened while we were on our
i way to the Department of Justice.
|! where I supposed / was wanted re,
!. garding report on my trip to Siberia.
4 Imagine my surprise when I was in
h Sormed that it was a matter of the
I majors death was wanted for
i Major Cronkhite and myself were the
!, best of friends. The night before the
|; accident we were together until after
/ midnight. The major had a wonderful
| memory, and remember we made a bet
|. that he could read over certain part
|! of the Manuel of Musketry and repeat
l it the next day. l only cite this in
! stance to show the feeling that existed
/ between US.
4 1T has been said that am trying to
4 cover Pothier. That is ridiculous. Can
!; you imagine me trying to shield him
, and face charge of murder? I am
not trying to shield any one / have
nothlng to conceal and have been per-
1ectiy willing to answer questions since
my arrest. There is absolutely nothing
TO the charge against me-"
Hearing Postponed
The hearing in removal proceedings
against Rosenbluth, on the complaint
OF having caused the death of Major
Cronkhite, which was fixed for yester
cay morning before United States
Commissioner Samuel M. Hitchcock.
. was put over until next Tues at
noon, by consent Of Assistant United
States Attorney John e. Joyce and
Jonah j. Goldsten, counsel for the ac-
cused.
Mr.. Joyce explained the delay in the
case was due to the fact that Captain
Ko.senbluth had applied for release on
SAiN, PNiuAliS cUVlCc from On1teQ
states Attorney General Harry M,
Daugherty and the United States At
torney at Seattle, an adjournment was
necessary. BY Tuesday, Mr.. Joyce said.
ne expected to have an answer from
those officials, and then will be in
position to answer application for bail.
commissioner Hitchcock consented
TO tne adJournmen-, saying that he
could not admit the prisoner to bail
1 Io i a.
| government.
4 After the adjournment had been
4 granted Captain Rosenbluth was taken
n 10 Mr. Joyce's Office and further inter-
!; rogated by Blllups Harris, agent in
u chafge OF the southeastern division of
\ the Department of Justice, concerning
!. the shooting at Camp Lewis.
|, Return to Seattle Urged
Il Mark EIsner, former Collector of In
/, ternai Revenue, one of Rosenbluth's a
Il friends, while at the Federal court
!: mousse Yesterday suggested that the ac-
Il cused should be admitted to hail ard
Il allowed to go to Seattle and endeavor
|; to explain and clear away the sus-
4 picions upon which the murder charge
4 is predicated.
Il PROVIDENCE, March 26.--Roland R.
i fothier, of Central Falls, r. l., who
last Saturday pleaded guilty here to
involuntary manslaughter when ar
raigned for killing Major Alexander P.
Sronkhite at Camp Lewis, Washington,
has been quietly taken from the county
Jan here to New York to face Captain
Il Robert Rosenbluth, held in that city in
4 connection with the case. 1t is under
4 stood that Pothier went to New York
= = Tor the purpose of identifying Captain
/ hosenbluth as an officer mentioned in