The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-03
HARRIS TAXES ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
 BERGDOLL RELEASE
Prisoner Let Out to Hunt for Pot of Gold on Plea of An- sell, House Investigating
 Committee Is Told
By Associated Press

Washington, May 2.-Maj. Gen. Peter c. Harris, adjutant general of the army, told House Investigating committee today that he alone was responsible for the release under guard of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, convicted draft dodger, to go out se- cretly to hunt for buried gold in the mountains of West Virginia. Bergdoll was permitted to start on the golden chase, but never returned, escap- ing at Philadelphia, where he had stopped over on his way to the noun tains, to visit his mother now awaiting sentence for conspiracy to aid him in evadng the draft
 It was on the plea of Samuel A. Ansell, formerly acting adjutant general of the army. General Harris testified, that the prisoner was let out. The general said he had been assured by MT. Ansell, at torney for Bergdoll, that the story Of the hidden treasure was true and that he would be sent back to Fort Jay as soon as he had climbed the hills for his gold
 Under ordinary circumstances, General Harris said, he would have acted on the request himself, but because of the pub | licity given to the prisoners escapades, he showed the Ansell letter to General March, the chief of staff, '-who only ! glanced at it.
 SANCTIONED BY MARCH | General March asked me if l knew ot any objections to granting the request" 1 the witness testified, and l replied that i Mr Anseli thought that Bergdoll had actually hidden about $150,000 in gold. and General March said, Go ahead or | words to that effect. I did not go to the chief of staff for authority to act The order was written by my assistant and I approved it.
 | Former Brig. Gen. John H. Sherborne | of Boston, counsel for the committee, and members wanted to know why the expe- dition was surrounded with such secrecy | and why efforts were made to avoid publicity. The general said he assumed, at least that the prisoners family were l respectable and that he would be hu- initiated if seen travelling under military guard.
 q wanted to spare the feelings of the l prisoner and his family.
 Was there any sympathy year ago 1 for this draft evader?" asked MT. Sher- burne.
 There was no sympathy for him. ! 1 believed he was entitled to the safne con sideration as other prisoners
 'There was no suggestion then as to why the authorities were directed to avoid publicity, except to spare the feel ,ines of the Bergdoll family?" Chairman Peters asked
 FEARED PUBLICITY The general repliede that if the news papers had got hold of the facts, they would have given the trip considerapie publicity.
 The name of John W. Westcott or New Jersey, described as the man who placed Woodrow Wilson in nomination at the Baltimore and St. Louis conventions, was brought into the hearings as one or 1 Bergdolls lawyers. Reference to MT Westcotts part in the case was made bv Representative Johnson democrat Kentucky, while conducting the examina- tions General Harris had testihed tna' when MT. Ansell first urged him to per nit the release of Bergdoll, he stated he had discussed the story of the goio with D. Clarence Gibboney, now dead and Mir. Westcott. the other attorneys and that they believed it.
 "Previous to BergdolTs escape, anu while the lawyers were preparing 10 ap- neal from the five-year sentence, ten eral Harris testified, MT. Ansen toiu me the Secretary of War would remem-
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