The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-23
STORY OF BERCDOLL
! BRIBERY RIDICULED
Major Campbell Explains
Where He Got Money He
Deposited in N. Y.
CITES BANK ACCOUNT
Asserts Cash Was Put In
During 1917, Whereas
Trial Was in 1920.
HIS FATHER TO TESTIFY
officer Says He Never Re
ceived Copper Cent as Re-
suit of COurt-Martial.
HIS FATHER TO TESTIFY
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
a. Washington, July 22.
"A denial in emphatic language that
he had demanded $4,000 and actually
obtained $4,000 from Mrs. Emma
Befgdoll to effect the release of her
Stacker son was made before the House
Bergdoll committee to-day by Major
Bruce r. Campbell The charge agains;
him was made in recent testimony be-
fore the committee by Mrs. Bergdoll
Major Campbell, who acted as mill
tary counsel for G. c. Bergdoll at his
court-martial, asserted that the state
ments of Mrs. Bergdoll were false in
every particular, stating that he had
never received "a copper cent from
the Bergdoll outfit"
The charges against the army officer
admittedly hang on where he obtained
tire sums of $4,000 and $4,000 which
he to-day admitted depositing with Was
serman Bros, New York brokers, In
February and March 1920 Mrs. Berg
DOH testified the money was paid to her
son for Major Campbell the latter part
of January 1920.
Where Money Came From.
During the first part of his testimony
the officer refused to trece the source
OF the funds placed with the brokers'
saying he wished to present witnesses
make regarding the money. Finally.
after much cross-exanining, he traced
the money in this manner:
In 1915 Major Campbell said he gave
$500 to Col Milton Young. Lexington.
KY. successful owner of race horses
for speculative purposes Col. Young is
now dead. he said. In 1917 Col. Young
paid to the father of the army officer
about $4,000 as the result Of the original
$500 deposited. Major Campbell said the
Kentucky Colonel was a close friend of
his father. The father then turned the
winnings over to him. the Major said
He stated he had wired his father to
come to Washington to substantiate his
statement in this respect.
The money then was deposited in the
Seaboard National Bank. New York.
during November or December 1917, and
the Major stated he had wired the bank
for confirmation of a deposit of about
$4,000 at that time. Soon afterward the
Major said. he was ordered to France
and he and his wife agreed to draw the
money from the bank.
The officer then asserted that his wife
kept the money in a trunk at Richmond
Va, where she resided during the war;
On his return from France Major Camp
bell said he finally deposited the money
with Wasserman Bros. in February and
March. 1920. In addition to the $4,000
he said he had $1,000 on deposit in
other banks and said he would prove It,
RidicuIes Her story.
Major Campbell said Mrs. Bergdolls
story was ridiculous, because she stated
the money was paid in January. 1920
ITO fix higher-ups." presumably the
court-martial. He said the court was
mol appointed to try Bergdoll until
March. He believed Mrs. Bergdoll made
Up the story out of conversation with
MIN on the boat from Governors Island
Mrs. Bergdoll then told me that she
believed in astrology, and was able to
make money by investing money accord
ing to the stars" he said. "She told me
she could read by horoscope and tell me
how TO make money 1 told her that's
fine business 1 have just deposited
$4,000 in bills with some New York
brokers and maybe my horoscope will
aid me In making money Evidently
there was something wrong with my
horoscope, because / lost money. but
Mrs. Bergdoll thus was In position to
make up this story"
Major Campbell demanded that he be
given time to prepare his case He
said some OF his papers were In n box
car somewhere between Fort Totten.
j.. l.. and Camp Pike. Ark. where he
was recently ordered
would Protect His wife.
The Major was warned before the
committee opened that his statements
could be used against him. but he readily
agreed to testify under the conditions.
He explained his reluctance in tracing
the money during the first part OF the
hearing was to prevent his wife and
friends from being dragged into this
rotten affair"
My wife is now suffering from ner-
vous prostration." ne said? Living
conditions at Camp Pike are vile. II
Is a rotten hole. The children are sick
and disease Is breaking out there. The
charges OF Mrs. Bergdoll have agra
waited her condition so per cent"
II was with difficulty that the COM
mittee obtained from the Major the
name of the man who brought TO him
the $4,000 from Col. Young
1T was brought 10 me while / was
on the field at training camp" he said.
Il stuck II in my shirt at the time"
Pressed TO name the man, he finally
said with half sob.
"Oh. hell, II was my father I teIe-
graphed him last night to come here and
testify
Major Campbell defended Bergdoll at
the court-martial and ne argued that he
did his duty and nothing more there as
he was acting under orders He argued
that after having faced shellfire and
poison gas in France he would have lit
tie sympathy for any pro-German.
Personally would have been pleased
N Bergdoll had been sentenced 10 twenty
years" he said but defended him to
the best of my ability. After the trial
Mrs. Bergdoll said to me she hoped all
those damned scoundrels connected with
the court-martial would have bad luck
the rest OF their lives. She would like
10 see the American army in he'll. II
seems strange that the word OF such
woman would be given credcnce."