Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-23
DENIES GETTING CENT
OF BERGD0LL MONEY
Major Campbell Says Money
on Deposit Came From
Friend.

Washington, July 23.--Maior Bruce
r. Campbell, overseas veteran, told n
House investigating committee yes
terdav that Mrs. Emma G. Bergdoli
lied when she testified last week that
he had demanded 100000 and was
paid ST, 900 to use in fixing higher
upss at washington in the interest of
her son. Grover Bergdoll. for whom
he was court martial counsel during
the latter's trial for draft evasion
early in 1890.
lie declared he never had received
as much as copper from the BERG
dolls: never had requested any, and
could prove that the $4,000 In cash
deposited about the time with Was
sermann Brothers in New York for
speculation was Obtained elsewhere.
Major Campbell was hostile wit
ness when members of the committee,
most of whom are experienced GRIM
inai lawyers. set out to learn the
source of his speculative funds. They
grilled him nearly three hours and
drew out the information only by de-
grees, the army officer protesting that
nc did not want to bring others into
the rotten" Bergdoll case.
He asserted that prior to 1920 he
had speculated, and that examination
of his bank accounts. which he in
vited. would disclose large deposits
at earlier dates. aggregating $4,000
or more.
The witness opened his statement
with an emphatic denial of Mrs.
Bcrgdolts assertion, but when pressed
| TO tell whence the money came de-
clared he would not tell a this time. =
explaining that his possessions had
not been uupacked IN moving from
Fort Totten. New York. to Fort Pike.
| Ark, and that In the absence of his
bank books his testimony would go
without confederation.
/ The committee insisted that he tell
now. pointing out that even If others
were brought In he owed II to them
to clear his record Of the besmirch-
| ing evidence against him.
Finally h. testified that in 1915 he
gave $500 to Col. Milton Young OF
| Lexington, Ky. an old friend and a
/ big racing man. 70 invest for him.
Young died. he said year. or So ago.
After this transaction. which was not
of record. he never saw his friend
again. hut In The spring Of 1919 an
other friend, now alive" conveyed
to him $4,000 from Col. Young. the
earnings &c the $500.
Whether this was made" or came
from his deceased friends pocket rs
a gift on account Of friendship. Major
Campbell did not know. He explained
he had sent his own father money
from time to time. the latter having
suffered financial reverses in 1907. and
that Col. Young knew il.
Major Campbell's eyes filed with
tears and his voice choked in relat-
ing this personal history But the
committee had to continue the ques-
tioning 10 learn the Identity Of the
friend who conveyed the money, as
Major Campbell resisted. expressing
bringing in the names Of honest
men,"
Then. az if BY sudden muster Of
courage and q decision to have the
whole thing out, he bIurted.
1T is my father. he'll
After that he appeared satisfied and
Invited the committee 70 call his father
L it desired. The Major, in fact. wired
him last night to come. but had nc
reply. The committee yesterday sub
poenaed his father. william r. Camp.
hell of Lexington. who is seventy
years old.
Major Campbell invited the com.
mittee to call the members of the
courts martial also to testify as to the
stock market talk az Governors Islane
because they knew he was speculat.
ing.
IF I was doing so with Bergdol
money. do you suppose I would have
5 let them know about it," he chal-
, lenged.
; In closing the officer invited tn.
J., committee, after the manner of
lawyer to a jury. To compare tn,
. record Of Mrs. Bergdoll. native of Ger
e many and German sympathizer 70
: forty years, with his soldier record o
: Drawing the Germans at St Mihiel an,
in the Meuse-Argonne. and SUFFERING
phosgene gas and other hardships an,
of forty years eff9yt to build up a rep
utation for character and honesty.
He did not fail to emphasize tina
Mrs. Bergdoll once had testified sh.
never paid him any money. The hear
ing viii be resumed tomorrow.
Major Campbell said his account
with Wasserman Brothers YEAS mac.
tive from 1919 to 1920 because he wa.
not specializing at that time and thai