The New York herald., 1921-08-19
ANSELL ARRAICNED
in BERGDOLL REPORT
House Committee Finds He
Was Master Mind in
Plan of Escape.
DISBARMENT is URGED
Col. Hunt Called Suitable
Warden for Founding
Institution
CAMpRETI TEN
CAMPBELL EXONERATED
Anscll, in Reply, Declares Evi-
dence Perverted With a
Political Purpose.
6peoiaI Despatch to THE New yoKH HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Wnshfupfnn n e.. Aug

washington, ID. T., Aug. 1b.
An arraignment Of Samuel T. Ansell.
Washington attorney, and former Act
Ing Judge Acknowledgement of the
Army, for the part he played in events
c. Bergdoll, draft evader, was con-
tanned to-day in the final report of a
majority of a special House committee
investigating the case.
The report asserts that Mr.. Ansell
"was the master mind of them all" in
the "plan or manner of Bergdoll's
escape. His disbarment was recon-
mended from practice before any OF
the departments, any court-martial. or
In the courts of the District of CO.
lumbia or the nation. above whose
safety and integrity he has placed
gold"
The majority report was signed by
two ts-Representatives John
son (Ky). and Flood tva.)--and one
Republican. Representative Luhring
(Ind.). A minority report signed by two
Republicans Representatives Peters
(Maine) and Macarthur Gore. Estates
that Mr.. Ansell did not accept brfbe.
that he did not conspire to effect the
escape and that his motives in the case
were not improper. But the opinion Is
expressed that he was a willing victim
of the Misrepresentation" Of d. Clarence
Gibboney, Bergdoll's Philadelphia law
yer now dead. The minority report
holds that Mr.. Ansell was misled be-
- ~ - IF fan fNf A
TO 100000.
In a statement tonight Mr.. Ansell
declared that the majority craftily per-
verts the evidence and he indicates that
political purposes were back of it, be-
cause Of his connection with a Repub-
lican investigating committee in the last
Congress.
Bergdoll was released from prison to
hunt an alleged pot of gold after Mr..
Ansell had written a letter to the War
Department asking such release. 1t
was while on this expedition that the
Stacker escaped on May 20. 1920, and
eventually made his way to Germany.
Serious charges are made by the
majority ag2 as. Col Jo1nff .E-. Hunt.
copmar Cant OF the military prison al
Fort Jay, n. Y, from which Bergdoll
was released, and against Col. (now
Maior) G. c. Cresson, who then prose
cuted Hunt In the court-martial after
the slackers escape. Ansell. Hunt and
cresson were described as three OF "the
many who participated in the conspir-
2 CO. leading to Bergdolrs escape and the
acquittal OF those who brought it about
who are infinitely more culpable than
the rest. The recommendation was
made that Hunt be dropped from the
army annuity list, because he failed to
provide proper guard for Bergdoll on
the gold hunting expedition.
Discharge Of Earl Il. Wood, Depart
ment of Justice employee. was asked be-
cause he failed to warn the War De-
partment of confidential report of a
Federal agent, written a month before
the release Of Bergdoll, which stated he
was planning to ask release from prison
presumably to hunt the pot of gold, "
but for the main purpose Of fleeing from
the country.
Major Bruce Campbell. charged by
Mrs. Bergdoll with demanding a bribe
of 500. 900 from her Ito fix higher ups
and obtain her sons release, was ex-
onerated by the majority, but the
minority suggested that his case be in