The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-18
MINORITY SAYS
ANSELL'S ACTION
WAS IMPROPER
Col. John F. Hunt and Col.
C. C. Cresson Came in
for Denunciation By the
ugly" Phas-
es Declared to Be Back
of CressOn's Acts.

Washington, ID. ", aug, lo'--cdniue
Tilden Ansell, former acting judge ad
vocate general of the army and OF th'
prisoners legal counsel; Colonel Johr
f. Hunt and Colonel c. c. Cresson Were
charged with conspiracy in connection
with the escape of Grover Cleveland
Bergdoll, the draft evader, in report
signed by three of the five members OF
special investigating commit, filed
to-day with the House.
Characterizing Ansell as "the mas.
ter mind" in the plan by which Berg
doll was released from a military pris
on under guard to dig up a pot OF gold,
the majority report recommended that
he be disbarred from practicing in the
courts of the nation "above whose
safety and integrity he has placed
gold.
A minority report filed at the same
time held, however, that there was no
testimony to support the charge that
Ansell, through whose efforts as coun-
sci the prisoner was released con
spired TO effectuate his escape" or
One Republican--Re Representative Luh-
ring Of Indiana two Democrats,
johnson of Kentucky, and Flood of
Virginia, signed the majority report.
The minority views were presented by
Chairman Peters, Maine, and Repre-
sentative Macarthur of Oregon, Repub-
licans. The majority finding is the
first of the many investigating reports
submitted to the House since the close
of the war where a Republican mem
Der Joined with Democrats and enabled
them to file majority views.
The majority hold that Colonel
Hunt, commandant of the barracks at
Governors Island. from which Berg
doll set out on his errand, was direct
ly responsible for the slaeker's escape
through failure to handcuff him or to
provide an adequate guard The mi
nority, after declaring that mo officer
of the army knowingly participated in
the conspiracy" found great derelic
tion of duty on the part of Hunt"
As a basis for its criticism OF Colo
mel Crcsson, the majority report said
that ''as ugly as are the many phases
of the whole matter, none is more de
fenseless than the. conduct of Colonel
Cresson in his pretense of prosecution
of Colonel Hunt" tried BY court mar
tial in connection with the Bergdoll |
scandal No reference TO Cresson was
made by the minority.
Major Campbell Exonerated.
/ Major Bruce r. Campbell, accused by
Bergdolls mother of having accepted |
$1,000 to help obtain freedom for the
prisoner, was exonerated by the ma
jority. The minority reported that /
there was no evidence that Campbell /
was in any way connected with the
escape, but assumed that the proper
military authorities would institute
such investigation as may be neces
ssry to the end that Campbell may be
exonerated. if not found guilty"
Dismissal from the department cf
Justice Of Earl b. Wood, in charge OF
Of CORES pondence in the Bergdoll
case, for failure to transmit to he
war department warning from a spe
cial agent that the prisoner was plan
ming to escape was recommended hy
the majority.
Major General Peter C. Harris, adiu-
tant general Of the army. who author
lied Hunt TO send Bergdoll. under
guard to the Maryland mountains to
search for the gold. was charged by
the minority with primary responsi-
biliiy for the situation which made
possible the escape" Asserting that
General Harris did not attempt to
eyade responsibility, the minority held
that there was mo question of improp-
er motive on his part" adding, IL vas
apparent his mind was readily over
come BY the strong statement Of An
sell that he would stand responsible
for the safe return Of the prisoner
The minority criticized General Harris
for suggesting to Hunt instead Of or
dering that a commissioned officer ac-
company the expedition.
The majority reported that the es
cape Wa ~the direct result Of the prop
osition submitted by Ausell to General
Harris" and that ~even Il AnseIl did
not conceive the plan. he presented Il
and pursued il to it, accomplish
ment.-
Taking up alleged connection with
the Berrdoil case II former Judge
John W Wescott. one time attorney ,
general Of Neu Jersey the majority
ssA 10 unimportsnt whether he sctu- Z
llly had legally representei BsrrioiL !
he report declared "a vas clear that T
Aasen undertook o. use Judge We 4
aott's name for the purpose 81 hring
NJ 20 bar Q pelificsl Influence ~uunn T