The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-08-18
Special Investigating Com
mittee Files Report; Rec
Ommends Ansell Barred
From Practicing
,ANSELL TERMED AS
'THE MASTER MIND"
CONSPIRACY IN CONNECTION
WITH ESCAPE OF GROVER
CLEVELAND BERGDOI4L,
DRAFT EVADER.
(By the Associated press)


Gen Ansell, former acting Judge ad-
vocate general Of the army and OF
the prisoners legal counsel; Colonel
John NJ. Hunt and Col c. c. Cresson,
were charged with conspiracy in con-
nection with the escape of Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, the draft evader
in report signed by three of the five
members of a special investigating
committee, filed today with the house.
Characterizing Ansell as the master
mind" in the plan by which Bergdoll
was released from military prison
under guard to dig UP a pot OF gold
the majority report recommended that
he be barred from practicing in the
courts OF the nation above whose
safety and integrity he has placed
gold"
minority report filed at the same
time held, however, that there was no
testimony to support the charge that
Ansell, through whose efforts, as coun-
sci, the prisoner was released, con
spred" TO effectuate his escape, or
that his motive was improper
OHe buH-
ring of Indiana-and two democrats.
johnson Of Kentucky and Flood of
Virginia. signed the majority report.
The minority views were presented
by Chairman Peters, Maine and Repre-
sentative Macarthur, Oregon, republi-
cans. The majority findings were
the first of the many investigating
reports submitted to the house since
the close of the war. whore n republi-
can member Joined with democrats
and enabled them to file majority
view.
Hunt Held Directly Responsible
The majority held that Colonel
Hunt. commandant Of the barracks
nj Governors Island from which Berg
doll set out on his errand, was di.
rectly responsible for the slackers
escape through failure 10 handcuft
him or to provide an adequate guard.
The minority after declaring that no
officer OF the army knowingly par
ticipated in the conspiracy" found
l"Frave derelicuon Of duty on the
part of Hunt"
As basis for its criticism Of Col.
onel Cresson. the majority report
said that "as ugly as are the many
phases OF the whole matter. none ~
more defcnselcss than the oonduc;
OF Colonel Cresson in his pretensc of
prosecution OF Colonel Hunt" tried
by court martial in connection with
the Bcrgdoll scandal No reference
10 Cresson was made by the minority
Major Campbell Exoncratcd
Major Bruce Il. Campbell, accused
by Bergdoll's mother ~ having ac'
cep,ed $1,000 TO help obtain freedom
for the prisoner. was cXoncratcd by
the majority. The minority reported
that there was no evidence that
Campbell was In any way connected
with the escape. but assumed the
proper military authorities would lin.
stitute such investigation rs may &c
necessary to the end that Campbcu
may be exonented. II not found gull
D"
Dismissal from the department OF
Justice OF Earl Il. Wood. In charge
case. Tor failure to transmit TO the
war department warning from a spc'
cial agent that the prisoner was
planning to escape. was recommended
by the majority.
Major General Peter g. Harris. adj
iutant general Of the army. who
authorized Hunt TO send Bcrgdoll,
under guard. To the Maryland noun.
tains to search for the gold. was
charged by the minority with prl-
mary responsibility FOR the situation
which made possible the escape. "A.
sorting that General Harris did not
attempt to evadc responsibility. the
minority held there was mo question
Of improper motive ON his part" add
ing IL was apparent his mind was
r,adily overcome by thcs trong state
ment OF Ansell." that he would stand
responsible FOR the safe return oi
the prisoner.
General Harris Criticised
The minority criticised General Ha;
ris for suggesting to Hunt. instead
Of ordering commanding officcs
upon the expedition.
The majority report was the 1T
rect result OF the proposition sub
mlt,ed By Ansell 10 General harris.
and that even II Anscl did not con
serve the plan. he presented It and
pursued 1t to its accomplishment"
Taking up alleged connection with
the Berrdoll case ~ former Judge
John W wescott one time attorney
general Of New Jersey. the majority
held Il unimportant whether he ac'
tually had legally represented Berg
doll. The report declared. 1t was
cl,ar" that Ansell undertook TO use
Judge wescott's name for the pur
bose Of bringing to bear political
Influence uron anybody In the admin
is,raiion who might be needed ID
! make sure or the gold hunt release,
which as last spelled BergdOlrs es'
cane"
seizure Berrdoll Property Recon-.
he mended
The majority report commended
the seizure Of the Bergdoll property
Nv allen prupefty custodian Millei