The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-05-05
BERCOOLL ESCAPE
LAID TO CIBBONEY
Dead Lawyer is Blamed by
Colonel AnSeIL.
VANITY MADE HIM CARELESS
Declares Philadelphia Desired to
Show BergdoI Family His Ability
to "Get Things Done"

Washington, May "a dead man
was charged with sole responsibility
for the escape of Grover c. Bergdoll,
notorious Philadelphia army deSerter.
u. Clarence Gibboney, Philadelphia
lawyer and former reformer, VIII" was
the Slacker'S counsel and who was
drowned in Mexican waters last
Christmas week, was named by Colo
mel Samuel T. AnSell in testimony be-
fore the congressional committee i'll
VeStigatng the escape, as the one at
whose door the blame must be laid.
1t is Il great pity we cannot queS-
ton Gibboney.' commented the COM
mittee chairman.
The war department." said AnSell,
commenting on efforts he had made to
recapture til, Stacker, seemed To be
stricken with IL strange paralysis.
AT another time while he was being
subjected to an eXc0riating croSS-eN-
animation by Congressman Ben John
son. Democrat. Kentucky. Il member
of the committee, Ansell cried, with
considerable evidence of emotion:
$50 help me God, had only one
motive. | am willing to accept pub
lie reproach, Cor l can only be charS-
ed with an error of judgment. l have
no fear Of prosecution
Ansell said he believed GibbOney, in
permitting the Stacker to go to his
home in Philadelphia instead of pro
ceeding on the hunt for the So-called
pot of gold" was actuated by per-
Sonal vanity and vain gl0ry-a desire
to show to the Bergdoll family his
ability to get things done"
Colonel AnSell, former acting judge
advocate general of the army and
later associate BergdOll counsel, re-
Stimed his testimony after his sharp
alteration with former Judge John
w. WpScott of Hadd0ntield, y. j.,
whom he named as one of counsel for
Bergdoll. and who fatty cOntradicted
that statement.
The tilt between AnSell and Con
gresham Johnson was spectacular. As
pointed as were thrusts of the Ken
tuckian, which assailed the integrity
of Colonel Ansell, the latter had a
prompt and equally keenly-darted
retOrt.
Other congressman leaned back in
their chairs, ruffing at cigars and en-
iOying the verbal encounter. Women
in the committee room gaSped when
they heard the congressman ask An
sell if he would have defended Benz
diet Arnold and Judas IscariOt.
"Since YOU resigned from the army,
your principal business has been in
instituting suits against the govern
ment or some departments" asked Con-
gresham Johnson. The KentuckiaH
had drawn out the witness
record in the regular army.
Il have prosecuted suits against
the government" mildly answered
Colonel Ansell Sometimes these suits
worked out to the welfare f the gov
us ii against the welfare OF the
government to take the case of no.
torious draft dodger?" 81 don't think
So
Colonel AnseIl almost leaped from
his chair. He laid his glasses aside.
He leaned over the table. His fingers
shook up ard down two feet from
Johnson.
I'm going to live or die by this
he declared. I'm not 60
ing to let public opinion dictate what
cases | shall take. This man Berg
doll had right to be tried by the
law of the land"
Did you ask Bergdoll if he were
5uilty?" asked Congressman Johnson.
NO, and that's not the question in
he case. There are two phases. And
neither you nor any one can look
lightly at the induction of a civilian
nto the army. l contend that Berg
Toll should have been tried by the
civil authorities