Evening star., 1921-05-11
COURT IS ACCUSED
Of WH|TEWASH|NG
Colonel in Charge Of Berg
doH Is GriIted Before
Committee.

f. Hunt. commanding the disciplinary
barracks at Governors Island, was
"whitewa ashed" by a military court
martial in connection with the escape
Of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll. draft
dodger. were made by Representa-
tive johnson. democrat. Kentucky,
today when the House Investigating
committee resumed its inquiry.
Mr.. johnson asserted he would
show that the trial of Col. Hunt for
alleged failure to take adequate pre-
cautions in releasing the prisoner
under guard was "a straishtout
whitewash. participated in by the
prosecuting ofiicer. the court itself and
other witnesses"
THE judge advocate (of the court
was no friend OF mine" Col. Hunt
said. and he prosecuted the case
vigorously. He was intensely inter-
ested in the Bergdoll case.
This particular judge advocate IS
to be commended most highly in SO far
as the matter related to Bergdol!. Mr.
Johnson replied. But it is to be de-
ploced that he took different atti-
tude with respect to your prosecu-
ton"
There was sharp crossfire on the
point that Hunt had been promoted
while charges against him were pend
ing. Mr.. Johnson inquired il announce
mont OF the promotion in the midst
OF the trial was made to influence the
court.
II am certain it was not made for
that purpose Hunt replied.
After Hunt had declared he never
gave more explicit instructions con-
cerning the safety of q, prisoner or
sent a stronger guard the question Of
Bergdolfs sanity bobbed up.
Quoting the expert views Of q
psychiatrist that Bergdon was not
dangerous. but subnormal, Mr.. john
son asked:
is that something like a ouija
board?"
The witness made no answer.
And you relied more on that than
on the direct military warnings that
Bergdoll was dangerous type" Mr..
johnson remarked. II see by the rec
ord" he added. that Maj Amos 7.
Baker was one of the things just
mentioned. but could not pronounce"
Col. Hunt explained that Baker was
an alienist.
Well the best information I can
get" johnson broke in. lis that Baker
tell when a rich draft dodger is dan
gerous."
Says Col. Hunt Was "WAitesvasAed..
That Col John E. Hunt, former
commandant at the disciplinary bar
racks At Governors Island. was
By q court-martiAl re-
sulting from his alleged failure to
take proper precautions to prevent
the escape of Grover Cleveland Berg
johnson of Kentucky before the
House investigating committee yes
terday afternoon. -
Col. Hunt, recently recovered from
long illness. had been on the stand
for nearly ive hours, when Repre-
sentative johnson subjected him to
grueliing cross examination. The
Kentucky member quoted from the
court-ma artial record certain state
n,ents by the prosecuting officer bear
ing on the good standing Of the ac-
cused. --...
is that a vigorous prosecuting
hunt instantly replied it was a plea
for his conviction, as he saw it hiTH
At this point John H. Sherbu fneiioE
Boston. counsel for the committee. In
terposed that it was only fair 70 rAAd
from the judge advocates address. .
course which the COMMITTEES approved.
Promises to "show Mofen -.
TT is my purpose to show, althbu&
l may not nave the Iuli co-opef2 2tfOn
of counsel for the committee" Mr..
Johnson declared, that the bQun.
martial record contains more than d
suspicion that this witness was white
washed and that counsel participated
only in half-hearted prosecution.
And 1 think 1 will show more as /
get further into it."
The extract read at the insist e nee OF
Mr.. Sherburne related to the sugges-
ton of Gen. Harris, the adjutant gen
eral. that q commissioned officer be
placed in charge Of Bergdoil on his
gold hunting expedition to the Mary
land mountains, a suggestion which
was not carried out. The prosecutor
asked for a verdict Of guilty on the
specifications.
Col. Hunt stated that no officer was
available at the time. and that he had
had the utmost confidence in Sergt
O'Hare. who was directly responsible
for the safe return of the prisoner.
Asked by Chairman Peters il the es-
cape was due to his own fault or the
of the guard, Hunt
denied vigorously that he was respor-
sible for Bergdolfs escape, and added
that he did not want to;-characterize
the conduct Of the sergeant as dere-
liction of duty.