Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-08-25
Report Says Shakers Millions
Stand Out like Pixies Peak,
WOULD DISHAR iNSELL
Congressional Committee Urges Colo
mel Hunts Pension BE Discontinued
and Colonel cresson Dismissed From
the Service.

the Service.
Washington. Upon former Judge
Advocate General Samuel r. An
sell is placed major responsibility
for the escape Of. Grover Cleveland
Bergdoll, Philadelphia draft evader,
by the majority of the select house
committee which investigated his es-
cape.
This was disclosed when the conn
mittee submitted two reports to con-
gress ending four months Of investi-
cation and hearings, during which
more than a score Of witnesses testi-
fed
The majority makes these recon-
mcndations:
H'irst--Disbarme from practice In
all federal courts and before all gov
ernmental departments Of General An
sell, who was Bergdoll's counsel when
he escaped.
Second Discontinuance Of the $4,000
annuity paid to Colonel John Il. Hunt,
retired, who was the major In charge
of the camp at Governors Island, and
whom the Johnson report holds respon-
sible for inadequney of measures to
prevent the escape.
Third-Discharge from the army OF
Major G. 9. Cresson, who prosecuted
the charges against the then Major
Hunt when he was court-martialed on
five specifications for alleged neglect.
Fourth Discharge from the army Of
hn fxrr, nf, VAvI,
from whose personal charge BergdoIl
successfully fed.
Fifth--Discharge from the govern
ment service Of Earl b. Wood, Wash
ington employee of the department OF
justice, who assumed the responsibility
of not informing his superiors when
advised In advance that Bergdoll plan
ned to escape.
Behind their alleged duplicity the
Bergdoll millions "stand ont like Pixies
Peak against the horizon of rising
sum-" and cast d blot on the nations
integrity. .iH sr e4i kype
The report was drafted by Con-
gresham Ben johnson, Democrat, Ken
lucky, and concurred In by 1 Congress-
men Hal d. Flood, Democrat, Virginia.
and Oscar r. Luhrin& Republican,. In
Diana sf g. ~
simultaneously, minority report
UHg presented by Cmgressmen John
At reteral Republican, o Maine, chair
man Of the COMMITTEES, and Clinton Nv.
Macarthur Republican, Oregon. This
Report Is milder IN tone, and although
II says Berglbdrs escape was the re-
suit Of a conspiracy, no officer or prf-
sHte In the army Is accused $50
Bergdolls wealth, the majority prob
e1s find, kept him on Governors Island.
instead OF being sent with Other prison
ers to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas The
investigators declare every avenue
was opened, presumably by bribery, to
permit the Stacker to escape
AS savagely as he attempted to draw
peari-handled pistol several weeks
ago when Charles A. Braun, brother
Of the Philadelphia draft dodger, was
before the committee, Congressman
Johnson assails the three army officers
The Kentuckian threatened Braun
when the latter called him liar dur
ing one of the committees hearings
During the war, General Ansen was
judge advocate general of the army.
After BergdolPs conviction, he was re
tanned as counsel Colonel Hunt was
commandant of "Castle Williams the
military prison on Governors Island,
N. Y, from which Grover was taken
to search for "the buried pot of gold'
when he escaped. Colonel Cresson was
the military counsel who prosecuted
the Philadelphia millionaire who
wouldn't 'tote" a gun in the world
strife, and who acted similarly at the
courts-martial of the military prison
commandant and two ermy sergeants.
while there are many who partici-
pated in the conspiracy leading to
Bergdolps escape and the acquittal Of
those who brought it about, there are
three who are infinitely more culpabIe
than the rest the majority report
says. "Those three are General An
sell, Colonel Hunt and Colonel Ores
son. But thus far no punishment has
been imposed upon anybody that could
not be discharged by the Bergdoll mil
lions, and counted a mere trife"