Arizona republican., 1921-05-03
.BERGDOLL GIVEN
 RELEASE UNDER. GUARD TO FIND CACHE. IF GOLD
Major General Harris Takes Responsibility For Release of Draft Evader; Bergdoll Coun- sel Promised Return.
Republican A. p. Leased wirel


 WASHINGTON, May D. Major General P. c. Harris, adjutant gen. eral of the army, told d house investi- gating committee today that he was responsible for the release under guard of Grover c. BergdoIl, con- victed draft dodger, to go out se- cretly and hunt for |, pot of buried gold in the mountains of West Vir- ginia. Bergdoll never returned from the chase
 It was on the plea of Samuel T. An ell. formerly acting adjutant gener- .al of the army, General Harris tes- tified. that the prisoner was let out. The general said he had been assured by Mir. Ansell attorney for Bergdol, that the story of the hidden treasure was true, and that he would be sent back.
 General March asked me if I knew of any objection to granting the re- quest" the witness testified. "and I replied that MT. Ansell thought Berg doll had hidden about S150,00O in gold, and General March said Go ahead or words to that effect. I did not go to the ch ef of staff for au- thority for the act. The order was written by my assistant and I ap- proved it.'
 Former Brigadier General J. H. Sherburne of Boston, counsel for the committee, and members wanted to know why the expedition was sur rounedd with such secrecy. The gen. eral said he assumed, at least, that the prisoners family was respectable and that he would be humiliated if seen travelling under military guard.
 Was there any sympathy a year ago for this draft evader?" asked Mir. Sherburne.
 There was no sympathy for him. I believed he was entitled to the same consideration as other prison ers''
 Then there was no suggestion as to why the authorities were directed to avoid publicity except to spare the feelings of the Bergdoll family ?' l Chairman Peters asked.
 The general replied that if tn, | newspapers had not got hold of the 1 fact they would have given the triI 1 considerable publicity.
 The name of J. w. Westcott oi New Jersey, described as the mar who had placed Woodrow Wilson ir nomination at the Baltimore and St Louis conventions, was brought into | the hearing as one of Bedgdolr: lawyers.
 Previous to BergdOil's escape anC while the lawyers were preparing tC appeal from the five-year sentence 1 General Harris testified, "Mr Ansel told me the secretary of war would | remember MT. Westcott as he hat nominated President Wilson. Thi was done, I suppose. to show hi: prominence as an attorney. I did SC, the correspondence between the sec retary and Westcott. After Berg dolls escape, I heard that about month before Westcort had seen tn, secretary in connection with the ap peal"
 Was Mir. Westcott to see the sec retary to determine what answer tn army would maker" the witness wa asked.
 He wanted the secretary to giv his personal consideration"
 MT. Harris declared his information that Bergdoll had eluded his guar was obtained from Mir. Ansell Tn facts. he said, were laid before Sec retary Baker, who had not know previously of the release orders. "Mr. Anseu asked to see the sec retary, but the secretary said it wa not necessary. that he did not wan to see him, but to tell MT. Ansell | get the prisoner and return him, a he had promised
 What reference did you put in tn promise of Ansell and would you le the man go without this persona 3 promise?" Chairman Peters asked. MT Ansells plea did influenc
 me- the general replied. But hi promise had no legal value; it wa moral, rather I think Mir. Anse should have prevented his escape" From MT. Charles McAvoy, feders
 district attorney at Philadelphia, tn u committee learned that D. C. Gib
 bony, now dead, Ansell and the lat ter's partner. Bailey, had been cen z sured by the grand jury and that the . had been requested by him to appea before that body and explain fact f bearing on the escape.