The New York herald., 1921-03-19
EX-BUGLER IS HELD
IN MAJ0R'SDEATH
Mystery Of Killing Of Major
Cronkhite at Camp Lewis
Said to Be Near Solution.
CONSPIRACY IS HINTED
Man Tracked From Pacific
Coast to Providence Makes
q Statement.
CONSPIRACY IS HINTED

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YonK HrHALp.
PROVIDENCE. March 18.-Department
OF Justice agents have under detention
here Roland r. Porthier, formerly a
sergeant bugler In the United States
Army, in connection with the death,
October 25, 1918, at Camp Lewis,
Washington, of Major Cronkhite,
Z. S. A., a son of Major-G Gen. Adelbert
Cronkhite. who commanded the Third
Army Corps at one time during the
war
At the time of Major Cronkhite's
death, an army court Of inquiry con-
Quoted an investigation and after
hearing witnesses found that Major
Cronkhite had accidentally shot him
self when at pistol practice. He was
at the time, only a few yards from
several men of his command who
heard the pistol shot and saw him fall
to the ground
The detention of Porther here brings
to light the suspicion OF the Federal
authorities that Major Cronkhite was
murdered. For two years the DEPART
ment OF Justice has been trying to
solve the mystery. 1t tracked Porthier
from the Pacific coast to Providence
and finally obtained a statement from
him to-day which 1t Is believed VIII
end the hunt.
No charges have been preferred
against Porthier. Attorney General
Daugherty has wired headquarters
against giving any facts In the matter
The Federal agents refuse TO discuss
the case. Further arrests are to be
made and all that can be said now is
the belief that there was a conspir-
acy in the death OF Major cronkhite.
1t was the fact that Major Cronkhite
was shot In plain sight of several men
of his command that disarmed suspicion
and allowed the case to drop from
notice after the coort of inquiry had
returned It's verdict to the War Depart
ment.
Major Cronkhite was In command OF
a battalion of infantry at Camp Lewis.
on the day of his death he had marched
his command from camp for pistol prac-
tice At noon, while his men we're at
yards away behind a clump Of bushes
and began to fire at an old tobacco TIN
for a target. On his fifth shot he turned
toward the soldiers idling upon the
ground near by and called out: Did
you see that shot7"
The men turned toward him when
the Major stagger and fall. He had
been shot beneath the right arm pit
In supposedly routine manner the
court of inquiry was convened and the
report was made to Washington that
he had shot himself accidentally. Upon
his return from France Major-Gen.
Cronkhite the dead mans father. made
an investigation and became suspicious
of the testimony given before the court
of inquiry.
He brought pressure TO bear upon the
War Department for further invesu-
cation.
At a rehearing contradictory and sus-
picious statements were obtained The
body OF Major Cronkhite was exhumed
and experts testified that II was inn
possible for the wound to have been self
inflicted. No powder marks were found.
The case wns mt once turned over 10
the Department OF Justice. which sought
every witness and every member OF the
court. IL WAS developed that while
Major Cronkhite was practising with his
pistol an officer lay concealed IN a clump
~ bushes nearby. That officer. It was
established, had n real or fancied griev-
nncc against Major Cronkhitc. He Is
under surveillance and his arrest is mo-
mentarily expected. For months the
Department OF Justice has been watch
Ing this officer. but never has Il had
sufficient evidence 20 sustain charges
against him. Other officers are said TO
be implicated.
Major Cronkhite was in the 213th
Engineers, and arrived at Camp Lewis
from Camp Forrest, Ga, on October
?. 1918. He was graduated from West
Point In 1915. one OF the highest In
the class.