Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-23
MAI. CAMPBELL
DENIES TAKING
BERGDOLL CASH
Money Sent Brokers
Own Hidden Fund
He Testifies
Five Thousand Dollars Invested
Before War Grew to $4,000
By 1917, in Way Unknown to
Him, He Tells House Investi-
eating Committee

Washington, July 22-Major Bruce
r. Campbell. of the United states
army, told The House Investigating
committee today that not a single
penny of the $1,000 placed by him
with a Wall street firm for stock
market trading last year was re
ceived from the Bergdoll family.
Flatly denying the charge by Mrs
Emma G. Bergdoll of Philadelphia,
that he had been paid $1,000 to aid
in obtaining freedom for Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, her draft dodg-
that the sum sent to the brokers was
his own money, hidden by his wife
at her home since the early days of
the war
The Major, called here hurriedly
without opportunity to examine the
charges against him, first declined
to testify at this time as to the
source Of the fund But. pressed
hard by the committee he turned
about suddenly and told of the hid
den treasure, and a moment later
related in detail how a $500 invest
ment. placed with the 4ate Milton
Young, OF Lexington. Ky, before the
war, grew to six thousand dollars by
1917. 1t was this same sum- he said,
that was hidden away and later
shifted to Wall Street and lost.
Processing ignorance as to how
the young investment had increased.
Major Campbell said that it had
been turned back to him by a man,
stfll living, but whose name he de-
Clined at the moment to give Then
in the midst of a sharp exchange
with committeeman, Campbell,
broke in, declaring, "Oh hell, it was
my father"
At this point the committee decid-
ed TO call his father. William r.
Campbell, of Lexington, who was
asked to come here at once.
Extremely reluctant to touch upon
family affairs to clear himself of the
charges, Major Campbell declared
that it had been his purpose to ask
time that he might be able to corro-
borate fully every word of his tes-
timOny. 1t was for this reason, he
said, that he did not want to dis
close all of his evidence until he had
been allowed time to submit proof
in denial of the accusations.
The major asserted that a fright
fur injustice had been done him by
the committee in permitting Mrs
Bergdoll and = representative of the
brokers to testify when he was not
present. He protested vigorously that
an agent of the army intelligence serv-
ice, in inspecting his bank account at
New York. hal not shown that at a
prior date he lad more than $4,000 On
deposit.
\ telegram, he said, had been sent
The bank requesting that it verify his
statement to this effect. and to send
its answer in care of Chairman Peters
At various times, Major Campbell
declared, he and his Wife has $4,000
ON deposit, not counting the sum lost
on the market but he declined to men
ton the names of banks until he
could get hold Of his. papers, en- route
with his household effects from Gov
ernor's Island to Little Rock. Ark.
There were moments when the ma
jor was unable 10 control his feelings
when referring to his wife and his old
father, and no banged the table in
anger as he denounced what he said
was the attempt of tho BergdoIls to
blackon his name AS military counsel
for the Stacker he never received a
dollar, he declared. The only thing
they ever CAV him. he said. was
three little cambric handkorchicfs,
bought at soldiers fair on the is
land. as trinkals for his babies.