The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-18
ANY PART
 IN THE DEATH OF
 MAJOR CRONKH|TE
Former Captain Charges De- uartment of Justice Men BIundered In Their Inves-
 tigation of the Case
By Associated Press


 New York, April 1Z-Denial that he was in any way connected with the shooting and killing of Maj. Alexander and a half years ago, was made here to- day by Robert Rosenbluth, formerly a captain in the army engineer corps. Ros- enbluth, who was arrested here on 4 charge of murder and released later on $25.O0o bail, was accused in an alleged confession made by Sergt. Roland P. iPotheir at Tacoma of having ordered lin to shoot the major. promising him protection if he performed the deed
 Rosenbluth, who is at the home of his attorney here, declared Major Cronkhife was the best liked man in the outfit and asserted that the department of jus- tce agents had blundered in their in- vestigation of the case.
 Tt was to satisfy a private ven- seance.p he said and to hang on to their jobs that I was accused of the nlurder.'
 The idea of a premeditated' conspiracy to shoot Major Cronkhite, Rosenbluth declared, was impossible, as the major was in the hospital four days previous
  to be with the skeleton regiment on the day of their hike.
 "Contrary to public opinion" he said, we were not at rifle practice on the day of the accident. A skeleton reg inent had been formed and 1t was to be q practice march, instructions in map drawing and the setting up of field Kitchens. Owing to a change sn officers. l. who was the commanding officer of Company D. was marching at the heaa of the column with Company A. owing to a machine gun outfit practicing near by, our plans were changed and we took a different route than the one originally planned.
 "when we came upon Major Cronkhito and Sergeant Pothier, halted the col 1unn which 1 was commanding, about 40 yards away. Apparently Major Cron- kite was passing the time away practlc- ing with his pistol on tobacco can, anc after haltlng the men l walked up, ana on the third shot he said to me, T go' it. Rosey, and a second later sald, My God, I'm shot
 Rosenbluth said he immediately gave orders fI. the regimental process sion to come forward and others who understood artificial respiration, as they all thought he was suffering from heart attack until a bugler dis- covered the wound.
 Not a breath of suspicion" said Rosenbluth, twas ever raised during the remaining two and & half months I remained in the army after the ac- cident, and during that time my com pany, in competition, won the highest honors in the regiment in being made flag company. It was through the influence of Major Cronkhite that was transferred from Camp Forrest to Camp Lewis with him."
 Rosenbluth said he had received a letter rom Frank B. Turner of Pensa- cola, Fla former sergeant at Camp Lewis, who, other than Rosenbluth and Potheir, was said to be nearest Major Cronkhite at the time of the shooting Turner attached a sworn affidavit, say ing q heard no shots from any other direction than those fired by the ma jor.'
 Jonah J. Goldstein, Rosenbluth's at- torney flayed the department of justice saying, they are looking for some one to put the blame on, and don't care who it is. Rosenbluth has nothing to fear, as he is absolutely inocent and all his old buddies in the service know 1t"