Great Falls tribune., 1921-05-11
Bergdoll's Disciplinaria,1 Ciue,l
Coat Of ''WhifeluQsh," CllQruc
Alleged Failure to Take
Proper Precautions to
Prevent His Escape,
Made at Investigation.

Washington, May 10.-The
charge that Col. j. E. Hunt
former commandant at the dis.
ciplinary barracks at Governor
Island, was '.whitewashed" by
| a court martial resulting from
his alleged failure to take prop
er precautions to prevent the
escape of Grover Cleveland
Bergdoll, Philadelphia draft
lodger, was made late Tuesday
at the end of a long session of
THE house investigating COM
mittee.
Called before the committee to tell
what precautions he had taken to
safeguard Bergdoll while on a gold
hunting expedition to the Maryland
mountains, Colonel Hunt had been on
the stand for nearly five hours when
he was taken in hand by Representa-
tive johnson, Democrat. Kentucky. for
grilling cross examination.
Questions Very Blunt.
Some of the questions put to the
witnesses were very blunt and Of a
personal nature Then, after asking
yes or no answer as to whether
ne had been given fair trial and
whether he had been agressivelv pros
ecuted. Mr.. johnson proceeded to
quote from the court martial record
certain statements by the prosecuting
officer directed at the good standing
Of the accused.
rs that a vigorous prosecuting
speech:' Mr.. johnson asked, and
Hunt instantly replied that it was a
plea for his conviction as he saw it.
Reads Course Approved.
, At this juncture. J. H. Sherburne Of
Boston. counsel for the committee. in
terpreted that it was only fair to read
from the judge advocates address.
course which the committee approved.
1 may not have the full corporation
OF counsel for this committee" M.
Johnson declared. that the court
martial records contain more than a |
suspicion that this witness was white
washed and that council participated |
only a half-hearted prosecution, and I |
think l will show more as I get fur |
ther into it,
The meeting then ended.
Sorriest Of All. |
Extracts from the judge advocates
address selected by Mr.. johnson set /
,orth the prosecution did not think or
intimate that Colonel Hunt wanted
oergdoll to escape or was in any con-
to that end. and that It was
,eaiized Hunt was the sorriest of all"
hat the prisoner got away. j
sympathy was expressed BY the
PROSECUTOR for the colonel now retired.
ND II was mentioned that he had made
a magnificent record as an officer"
nut that was not the question at issue
nd that there had been a technical
rotation of military regulations il, a
ray to bring discredit upon the army.
Suggestion Overlooked.
The extracts read at the insistence | !
t Mr.. Sherburne related the sugges- t !
ion OF General Harris. the adjutant
eneral. that commissioned officer be
laced in charge of the expedition, a )
nSgestion which was not carried out. !
he prosecutor asked for a verdict of
uilty on the specifications. .
Colonel Hunt who recently recovered
'orn a long illness, took no part in
le discussion.
Asked by Chairman Peters IL the
scape was due to his own fault or to
le mcompetency Of the guard. Hunt
.nied vigorously that he was respon- :
bile for the escape and added that
? did not want to characterize the
'rstuct OF the sergeant as dereliction