Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-18
BergdOU PrObers
Score AnSeLl
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Committee. will present to the proper
officials, resolutions 70 effect these rec
concentrations.
The johnson report describes an in
volved and complex conspiracy in which
the following are grouped:
Grover Cleveland BergdOll his
mother, Mrs. Emma G. Bcrgdoll; their
chauffeur. Ike Stecher; the family
friend. Judge Romig: the two sergeants,
O'IIarc and York: the late ID. Clarence
Gbboncy. the family attorney; General
Anscll and Colonel Hunt
Former Judge John w. Wcstcott, Of
New Jersey. drawn into the investiga-
ton By attorneys for the BcrgdOlls, is
given clean bill of health. No clause
is placed on Adjutant General Harris.
''Anybody who has seen and heard Of
those associated either directly or IN.
directly. with the plan or manner Of
BerglOll's escape. not only must recog =,
nizr General AnSpll as the master mind
of them all but also as the dominating,
controlling spirit of them all, the ma
jCrity report says.
WescOtt EXOneratiOn
OF Judge Wcsrott. who vehemently
denied the charges against him when
he testified at the hearings here, the
majority agrees:
with the advent into the case Of
him CAnsellD who. by his partner, has
been modestly declared to be the high
est authority in this country on mill
tary law. we find sorcerer like deCep-
ton practiced upon the unsuspccting.
Next we see u palsied old man,
overfowing with that generous spirit
of acQuicsCence and lack of resistance
that ALWAYS accompanies hose who
grow old beautifully, placed and re-
paced. in artist like fashion, wherever
his name could be best cOmmerCialized.
"Bcrgdoll's escape was the direct re-
suit of the proposition submitted by
General AnSell to General Harris. Even
if General .Ansell did rot conceive the
plan he presented it and pursued it to
its accomplishment.
THE others had exhausted all reme-
dies known to them as attorneys prac-
ticing in the civil courts. 1t was Cen
eral Ansell, resourceful and conversant
with military possibilities, who must
have conceived it.
Colonel Hunt Assailed
OF Colonel Hunt. the commandment of
the prison camp. the report says:
We see the commandant of the
prison turn deaf, dumb and blind to
every direction that might work to the
dc,riment Of Bergdoll's escape. We
sec handouts denied, and every other
official instruction violated. The plight
ed faith of counsel ahsconds before the
prisoner does, that his going may be
the easier
OF Colonel Cresson the report says:
Finally and as fitting sequel to
the sordid tale, we find that the derclict
COmmandant at Governors Island was
Irose, uted by one of those whose shame
should be measured only by his days.
"FOlowing the firIsy pretense--only
Il timSy prctenSe-at prosecution.
shameful, lisl onora6le and only al
legged prosecution, the commandant's
fate was given to court composed of
military officers, who found him mot
guilty in the face of his own ad-
missions that he had not complied with
instructions, for the violation of which
he was then being tried
The report also says that Major Hunt
admitted two of the offenses with which
he was charged and that the other three
were established against him.
Defenseless Conduct
~ ugly 40 uiN many piuS'S VI lulS
matter, none Is more defcnseless than
the conduct of Colonel Cresson. To turn
those loose who turned Bergdoll loose
but adds insult to injury, and Colonel
Cresson was the principal one Of the
instruments through which this latter
ofense was perpetrated.
The trial, adds the report. "was n
mockcry," and "the conviction was
and is that Borgdoll bought his way
out, yet Colonel Cresson, the prosecutor.
boldly announced that he would not
prove that to be the case, even If he
could"
The Johnson report says Sergeant
O'Iiare was imposed on by Colonel
Hunt" but co. Hare Is guilty Of un-
Pardonable negligence" and there can
be no defense whatever made for Ser
geant York"
Earl Wood, who turned into the files
a letter of warning sent the Depart
ment of Justice here by John J. O'Con-
nor, an agent in Philadelphia, is Sc
verely criticized in this report for not
informing the proper officials.
Uurge Woods Dismissal
" Believing that no man Of Mr..
Woods most extraordinary nuke -up
should continue in the public service,
ms dismissal is most earnestly recon-
mended' in the report.
More, it is recommended that he BE-
forever disqualified from holding any
appointiye position whatever under the
Government of the United States"
Judge Romig is termed "Bergdoll's
foster father"
General Anscll procured the release
of Bergdoll for Colonel Hunt, and
Colonel Hunt placed Bergdoll in the
hands of SergeantS O'IIare and York.
and then, by Hunts orders, delivered
him to Gibboney, BcrgdOll's attorney.
and Gibboney turned him over to
konig, Bergdoll's foster father, who
took him to the Bcrgdoll residence. from
which he escaped,' says the report.
That courtmartial will stand as a
nasty scandal through the coming
years. is Representative Johnson's
conclusion.
Money talks in whispers" the re-
port charges, lin the whole Bergdoll
affair 1t charges tuat 4 trail of Berg
doll gold can be plainly discerned lead
ing through all the devious turnings of
events which followed Grover Bergdol's S
conviction as Stacker and deserter..
The report declares that the very
fact that Bergdoll was held SO long ut
Governors Island, instead If Jcing sent
TO Fort LeayenwOrth. indicates that
money figured in the affair.
The report charges that the alleged
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