The Washington herald., 1921-07-23
FIRST DECLINES
ITO TELL SOURCE
OF A,5OO DEPOSIT
Later Says Received 1t
From Race Horse King
Now Dead.
HAD 1T DURING WAR
Declares the Only Money Paid
81 Was for Slacker's
e Cigars.
HAD 1T DURING WAR

absolutely false" is the answer
Of Maj. Bruce r. Campbell TO
charge, that he accepted bribe OF
5000 in connection with the es-
cape from military prison of Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, wealthy Stacker.
The charges were made by Mrs.
Emma BergdoIl. mother of the
Stacker, before a House investlgat-
ing committee. Mrs. Bergdoll had
also charged that Campbell asked
SieoOOO to fix "hIgher-ups." Camp
bell appeared before the committee
Yesterday to deny the charges.
mrs. Bergdoll's statement Is
false in every particular, SAID
Campbell. There is not word OF
truth in it."
Acknowledge $500 Deposit.
Campbell acknowledged that he
deposited $4.50o with Wasserman
Eros, a brokerage firm in New
York, about the time Mrs Bergdoli
claims the bribe money was paid TO
him. But he declined to reveal
where the money had come from
untfl later. He declared his inten-
tion of producing evidence to show
where he had obtained it. but said
papers and records were with his
household goods. now on their way
from Governors Island to Little
Rock. Ark
Later, when cross-eNamination
became heated. Campbell said the
money was in his possession as cash
during the war.
,'T had the money in cash during
the war. and where it was kept is
nobody's damn business, he said.
The major explained that Mrs.
Bergdoll learned of his deposit with
Wassarunann Bros. through con-
versation with him on boat from
Governors Island.
w Claims Investment Grew.
When he was asked how he got
the money, Campbell said that in
1915 he had placed $500 with Col
Milton Young. OF Lexington, KY, a
race horse king" and that the in
vestment had grown to $4,000. Col.
Young. he said. is now dead
Campbell went on to explain that
perhaps Young. who had been a
close friend of his fathers had
given him the money. Young. he
said. had paid the money to him in
1917 through a mutual friend.
Campbell said that for years he had
sent every dollar he made to his
rather at Lexington in connection
with family financial difficulties
Demanded secret Session.
Campbell had demanded a secret
session of the committee when he
appeared before it yesterday. His
explanation was that he desired TO
discuss with the committee wit
nesses he wished to call in his de-
rense. The request was granted
with Campbell indicating that he
desired to enter a denial OF the
charges in open session.
Campbell said during the first
part of 1920, he defended all mill
tary prisoners AT Governors Islan'l.
No Charge for Services
In response to questions Camp
hell exclaimed 'Oh Lord, / told
them all. Mrs. Bergdoll and Grover.
that there would be no charge for
my services.
Mrs. Bergdoll never gave a cop
per cent" said the major. The only
money 1 received from any one
connected with the case was $40 or
s1s from Clarence Gibboney, Berg
dolrs lawyer. to pay for some
cigars he had ordered from the
army store for Bergdoll."
Claims Worth $4,000.
Campbell declared that he and
his wife were worth more than S24,-
900 in cash. He stated he left
$1,000 with his wife while he was
in France. The major said he baj
teleraphed to banks to prove his
charge.
with reluctance. Campbell brought
his wife into the testimony. HS
said she was on the verge Of nerv-
ous prostration, because of LIVING
conditions at Camp Pike, Ark.
This case is too rotten for my
wife to be dragged into" he said
Mrs. Campbell lived In Richmond
Va. during the war.
CampbelFs father, William r
Campbell, will appear before the
committee today.