The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-08-24
CALLS kNSELL PLOT TIT
TO AID 81 RG. OIL.
Majority House Report says lie
Was Master Mind and
Urges Disbarment

washington, aug. lo,-tnaTBes
that Grover G. Bergdoll, millionaire
draft dodger, was aided in his es-
cape to Germany by conspiracy in
which Gen. Samuel +. Ansell, Col.
John r. Hunt and Col. G. c. Cresson
played the leading parts, We're made
today in sensational report of a
majority of the Bergd0ll Investigate
ing committee to the House.
The report was signed by three
members of the committee, Rep
renscntatives Ben Johnson, Ken
lucky, Democrat; Henry d. Flood,
Virginia, Democrat, and Oscar Luh-
ring, Indiana, Republican.
At the same time, the minority,
consisting Of Representative Peters,
Maine, Republican, and Representa-
tive Macarthur, Oregon, Republican,
filed report differing from their
colleagues and laying the blame up
on the shoulders of Gen. Peter g.
Harris, Adjutant Geenral OF the Ar
my. General Ansell, who was for
merly Acting Judge Advocate Gem
eral of the Army, was one of Berg
dolls counsel.
I Who Is Blamed Most
4 Colonel Hunt was commandant
at Governors Island, where Berg
doll was imprisoned prior to his es-
cape. Colonel Cresson was the off,
GER who prosecuted Colonel Hunt
in the courtmartial proceedings fol-
lowing Bergdoll's escape.
while there are many w'o .lT'i.
cipated in the conspiracy leading to-
BergdOll's escape aul the acquittai
OF those who brought 1t about, there
are three who are infinitely more
culpable than the rest. Those three
are General Ansell. Colonel Hunt
and Col. G.. C.. Cresson," the majori-
ty declared.
I The report recommended that
General Anseli, who il characterized
as the master mind" of all those
associated with the plan Of Berg
dolls escape, be disbarr2d from
practice in the courts OF the nation,
above whose safety and integrity
he has placed gold"
Wants His Pay Cat on
1t urged that steps be taken to cut
/ off the pay CT Colonel Hunt as a re-
tired Army officer drawing $500
annually.
1t expressed the hope that Thorn
as w. Miller. alien property custo-
dian, would compel Mrs. Emiha
BergdOll, mother OF the Stacker, TO
produce the 900 pot of guld
which she buried near Philadelphia
prior to her sons ESCAPE.
It. also recommended the dismiss
sal of Earl b. Wood of the Depart
ment of Justice for. failing TO take
proper steps when the departmht
was warned that Bergdoll would
make an effort 10 escape.
The minority agreed that Berg
doll gained his escape through con-
spiracy, but confined the list of
participants to ID. Clarence Gibboney
chief counsel for Bergdoll; Judge
ROmig, the BergdOll family adviser,
and Ike Stecher, the Bergdoll
chauffeur.
8 Major CahpbeiI Cleared
/ Maj. Bruce II. Campbell, accused
J by Bergdolls mother of having ac-
cepted $4,000 to help obtain free
dom for the prisoner, was exonerat--
ed by the majority. The minority
reported there was no evidence that
Major Campbell was in any way
connected with the escape, but as
sumed the proper military authori-
ties would institute such investiga-
tion as may be necessary 70 the end
that Campbell may be eXouerated, IL
not found guilty"
Dismissal from the Department OF
Justice of Earl b. wood, in charge
of correspondence in the Bergdoll
case, for failure to transmit TO the
War Department warning from a
special agent that the prisoner was
planning to escape, was recommend
ed by the majority.