The New York herald., 1921-03-24
ANOTHER HELDFOR
CRONKHITEDEATH
Robert Rosenbluth, Former
Captain in A. Z. f., Taken
on Murder Warrant.
LONG SEARCH REWARDED
q. S. Agents Silent on His Re-
lations With Pothier, Who
Admitted Shooting.

Robert Rosenbluth, formerly Cap
tain OF Engineers in the United States
Army, was arrested last night in the
Civic CLUB. in IA West Twelfth street
and locked up in Police Headquarters
on warrant charging him with the
murder OF Major Alexander p. Cronk-
hite. who died from bullet wound
October 20, 1918. at Camp Lewis.
Washington. The arrest was made by
Billups Harris, Special Agent of the
Department OF Justice IN charge Of
the Washington district, and Agents
$. Hoeckley and Ralph Navarro Of
the New York district
Tho arrest OF Rosenbluth furnishes
another angie OF mystery to the Cronk-
hite case, which for two years and more
has been one of the most mysterious
deaths which the army authorities and
the Department OF Justice have ever at
tempted to solve. At the inquiry held
shortly after the shooting a number OF
witnesses testified that Major Cronkhite
had killed himself accidentally. One of
these witnesses was Roland r. Pothier.
sion. stationed at Camp Lewis, but last
week Pothier was arrested In Provi-
dence, r. l., in connection with the kill
ing. Arraigned before S. A G. Matte
son, United States Commissioner at Prov
icence. Pothier admitted shooting Major
Cronkhite. pleaded guilty to involuntary
ruanslaughter and was held In $4,000
bail for the Federal Grand Jury In Ta-
ccma. He declared that his pistol had
been accidentally discharged while he
was cleaning It in the presence of Major
Cronkhite.
Arrest Based ON Amdnvit.
In spite Of the arrest and admissions
of Pothier and the statements OF the
witnesses at the army inquiry, Rosen-
bluth was arrested last night, the muir
der warrant being based on an affidavit
by Agent Harris. Rosenbluth was one
OF the witnesses at the inquiry held by
the authorities OF Camp Lewis. and like
the others testified that Major Cronk-
hite had shot himself accidentally. At
Police Headquarters last night he was
questioned for several hours by Agent
Harris and by Thomas NJ. Reddy, Act
in Division Superintendent OF the New
York district OF the Department OF JUS
tice. The authorities, however. refused
TO divulge Roscnbuth's connection with
the case or the details OF the charge
against him.
THAT is a phase or the case" said
Mr.. Reddy, that we are not yet ready
to go into. 1t win require further in
vestigation."
Neither Mr.. Reddy nor Mr.. Harris
would make public any statement that
Rosenbiuth may have made 70 them Last
night In connection with the murder.
nor would they state what connection
there was, II any, between Rosenbluth
and Pothier. The latter was not arrested
until after ne had been sought for. more
than a year It Is believed that the au-
thorities have been looking for Roscn-
bluth equally as long. II Is known that
during all the time when II was thought
the shooting OF Major cronlShte had
been forgotten the Department OF jus
tice has been quietly conducting an In
vcstigation. This was begun when Major
Gen. Cronlhite. father of tho dead man.
expressed himself as dissatisfied with the
findings of tho court OF inquiry.
Went Back to Europe.
Rosenbluth told the Department OF
Justice agents that his home was In New
York, but did not givo hts street ad-
dress. Hc said that in 1912 and 1918
he was director Of tho forest investiga-
ton conducted by the State. and thai in
later years he was connected with the
Department OF Corrections and the Ro-
fcrmatory for Boys at Hampton. n. Y.
In 1917. he said, no was assistant a.
rector OF the Public Service Institute. but
gave up his position TO so 10 Piattsburg,
where he was commissioned. He went 10
France with the First Engineers and
served with that regiment, and also with
the Second Engineers. After several
months overseas he was sent back 20
the United States as an Instructor and
assigned 20 Camp Forrest, Georgia
whero Major Cronkhite was also sta
toned at the time. Later Major Cronk-
hite was cent 20 Camp Lewis, and Ro-
senbluth was sent there also some time
afterward.
Rusenbluth said ne was mustered out OF
the army on Jan. s. 1919, and went abroad
Immediately. visiting Siberia, Turkey
and other countries, collecting informa-
ton and statistics which he sold on his
return here for enough to cover his ex-
penscs. He returned to the United States
only a few months ago, he said. He Is
about 40 years old and was born in
Philadelphia.