Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-19
Ansell Named in
Conspiracy Charges
in Bergdoll Case

John +. Hunt and Col c. c. Greasy
we're charged with conspiracy in
connection with the escape of Gro
yer Cleveland Gergdoll. the draft
evader in a report signed by three
of the five members of a special in
vestigating committee, filed today
with the House.
Characterizing Ansell as the
master mind" in the plan by which
Bergdoll was released from mill
tary prison under guard to dig up a
pot of gold. the majority report
recommended that he be disbarred
from practicing in the courts of the
nation above whose safety and in
tegrity he has placed gold"
r minority report filed at the
same time heidi, however, that three
was no testimony TO support the
charge that Ansel. through whose
efforts as counsel the prisoner was
released. "conspired to effectuate his
proper"
One Representative
Luhring OF Indiana-and two demo
Gratis, Johnson Of Kentucky, and
Flood of Virginia, signed the major
lty report.
Peters on Minority
The minority views we're present
ed by Chairman Peters. Maine, and
Represc ntatiVe Macarthur of Oregon,
republicans. The majority finding is
the first OF the many investigating
reports submitted to the House since
the close of the war where a re-
publican member joined with demo
Gratis and enabled them to file ma
jorltY views.
The majority hcld that Cob Hunt.
Commandant of the barracks at
Governors Island from which Berg
doll set out on his errand. was di-
rect!y responsible for the sackers
him or TO provide an adequate
guard. The minority, after declar-
ing that no officer OF the army
knowingly participated in the con
Splrac%' found grave dereliction OF
duty on the part OF Hunt"
AS 4 basis for it's criticism Of Col.
CreSSon, the majority report said
that as ugly as are the many phases
of the whole matter. none is more
defenseless than the conduct Of Col
Cresson in his pretense of prosecu-
ton of Col, Hunt tried by court
martial in come ction with the Berg
doll scandal. No reference to Ores
Campbell Exonerated
Major Bruce +. Campbell. accused
by Bergdolls mother of having ac-
ccptcd 5000 to help obtain freedom
for the prisoner. was cXonerated by
the majority. The minority reported
that there was no evidence that
Campbell was in any way connected
with the escape" tut assumed that
the proper military authorities would
institute such Investigation as may
hc necessary to the end that Camp
bell may be generated if not found
guilty."
Dismissal from the department Of
justice of Earl r. Wood in charge of
correspondence in the Bcrgdoll case.
for failure To transmit 10 the war
department warning from a special
agent that the prisoner was planning
to escape, was recommended BY the
majority.
Criticize Gen. Harris
Major General Peter G. Harris ad-
jutant general of the army, who au-
thorized Hunt to send Bergdoll under
guard to. the Maryland mountains to
search for the gold, was charged by
the minority with primary response
bIlity for the situation which made
possible the escape" Asserting that
General Harris did not attempt to
cvade responsibility, the minority held
that thcr" was no question of I'M
proper motive on his part" adding it
was apparent his mind was readily
overcome by the strong statement of
AnSrIl that he would stand responsible
for the safe return Of the prisoner.
The minority criticised General Har-
ris for suggesting to Hunt. instead of
ordering that commissioned officer
accompany the expedition
Lay Blame on Ansel
cape was the direct result Of the
proposition submitted by Anseli to
General Harris" and that even if An
sell did not conceive the plan, he pre-
scented ii and pursued it to it's accom-
plishmcnt
Taking up alleged connection with
the Bergdoll case of former Judge
John W. Wescott. one time attorney
general of New Jersey tho majority
held it unmportant whether he act
ually had legally represented Berg
doll The report declared lit was clear
that Ansell undertook TO use Judge
Wescott's name for the purpose of
bringing TO bear political influence
upon ANYBODY in the then admins
tration who might he needed to make
sure of tho gold hunt release which
at IasB spelled Bergdoll's escape"
Would Dig Up Gold
The majority report commended the
seizure of the Bergdoll property by
Alien Property Custodian Miller and
urged that he make every effort to
produce 100000 in sold obtained by
Mrs Emma c. Bergdoll from the
treasury department and alleged to
have been buried on her farm near
Philadelphia. This was put in al the
insistence of Representative Luhring.
who declared that the withdrawal Of
the gold was the foundation stone of
the whole conspiracy.
The minority held that, while "un
questienabiy conspiracy existed ia
81 4