Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-04
EXCITEMENT AT INVESTIGATION
 OF THE ESCAPE OF BERGDoLI

Washington, May 3.-A sharp question of veracity, arising between Samuel T. Anseu, former acting judge advocate gen eral of the army, and former judge John W. Westcott of New Jersey, created in- tense excitement today at the investigation by house committee of the escape of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, Philadelphia draft deserter.
 Called to the stand before MT Ansell counsel for Bergdoll had completed his long statement, Judge Tescott, who is | 72 years of age, fatly denied the testi- mony of Ansen in two essential details. and declared with great emphasis there was no word of truth in the report that he had been engaged as associated coun- sel as Ansell had stated, to help get Bergdoll out of prison after he had evad- ed the draft for nearly two years.
 1 As the judge went back to a seat in corner of the committee room, NIT. An sell, who had heard part of the denial. re- | iterated under oath that every word of his testimony was true. Just as his ex- animation was about. to shift to other channels, Chairman Peters, turning to the judge, asked if he desired 10 be heard.
 The judge was on his feet instantly, Moving over town the table. across from which MT. Ansell sat. and refusing to be seated, Judge Wescott for five minutes let loose a torrent of denial, declaring that Ansell lacked the physical, mental and moral courage to step outside and make
 the same charges to his face. In the midst of the verbal attack, MT. Ansell
 broke in with the demand that if it was to
 be debate he wanted the right to speak
 Seeing possibilities of an impending
 clash Chairman Peters quickly stopped it.
 but not until the judge had fired few
 more shots, then, picking up his hat the
 latter walked out with courteous and ] smiling Well, goodby gentlemen"
 First denying that there was shread o
 truth in the statement by the late D
 Clarence Gibboney, of Philadelphia tha : he had been employed in the Bergdol
 case and paid s1.250 for his servlces
 Judge Wescott reclared he never went t'
 see Secretary of War Baker in Berg
 dolls behalf, as Mir. Ansell had testjhe, . and that he knew nothing whatever of tn , story of BergdoIrs buried escape. Earlie z in the day MT. Ansell had testified tht; ? Judge Wescott as one of the defenSe at , torneys had discussed with Gibboney an
 himself the question of urging ths war de
 partment to permit the dodgers releas ? under guard to go out and find it.. , The fact was mentioned that the judg
 was warm friend of Secretary Bake a and that he was the man who had place Woodrow Wilson in nomination fdr pres
 ident both at the Baltimore and St Loui
 conventions Judge Wescott declared hi n only part in the case was the sending C d Mir. Baker a letter, enclosing the Anse l. brief in the Bergdoll appeal, whica h h regarded as a brilliant document and on V which should have the secretary's person
 al consideration.
 Going back to the tale of the burie c gold. Judge Wescott looking Mir. Anse r squarely in the eye, exclaimed: d T never heard of it until it came ol .- with the news of Bergdolrs escape. h would suppose that if man of MT. AT
 sells ability could get that crazy idea
 his head and in view of what happene Id he would have left the community" in Deprecating the fact that two men ecu B. be at such variance as to the facts, an to lacking the right of cross exaninatio z- Judge Wescott- said he wanted to reite
 ate in Ansell's presence, "a-d in his yer
 teeth" that the latter knew whsn he test fled that statements concerning him we n untrue. The judge told. the commit 2 Ansell had refused to recognize him Tt the rocEi, when they were only a fev fn .s apart which jed to much questioning ar
 to the remark by Judge Wesco-t that Il lawyer must lave been conscious then .s making gIsteTnent he had no authority t, make.
 D Blu: al doubt as to personal relasio, st between the two was cleared away lat 9d by Mir. Ansell who said he had refus K to see Judge Wescott with Gib5oney scr
 time ago and never would meet him aga.