The New York herald., 1921-04-17
CR0NKHITE KILLING
UP TO ROSENBLUTH.
Reported Confession Says
CAPTAIN Ordered Pothier
to Get Major.
ENTERS INTO DETAILS
Ex-Soldier Quoted as Saying
Officer Told Him to
Shoot to Kill.
PROSECUTOR In THE DARK
No State Charges Made in
Tacoma-Accused Is Help
ing u. S. Probe.
PROSECUTOR IN THE DARK

TACOMA, April 16.-Roland P. Pothier,
charged with Staying Major Alexander
Cronkhite at Camp Lewis in october,
1918, confessed TO Federal authorities
that he was ordered by his superior
officer, Capt Robert Rosenbluth, TO
bring out a loaded gun and get
Cronkhite. il was announced to-day by
4 Prosecutor ]. w. Selden.
A description OF the incidents lead
Ing up to the shooting are given in the
purported confession, Mr.. Seden said.
After explaining that Capt. Rosen-
bluth first approached him four days
before the shooting, Pothier's state
ment says:
ION the next day or the night there
after I again met Capt. Rosenbluth,
and he asked me If I remembered what
he said to me the other night about
firing a pistol. l answered Yes. He
then asked me if had any idea what
il was for and l answered, No lie
then said, I want to get Major CronK-
hite, / asked him what he meant,
and he said. I want to kill him..
u asked him what his reasons were
for wanting me to kill the Major and nc
said Because we want to get him out
of the way"
said He Promised Protection.
The alleged confession then stated. as
given out by Mr.. Selden. that Rosenbluth
told Pothier precisely what he was to 90
and promised him protection, and then
continues:
"Rosenbluth said BE sure that you
hit him in a good place so he won't nave
q chance to say anything.
n asked Rosenbluth what | was 70
do sitter / shot cronkhite and he said
YOU never mind | will be somewhere
around. and when I see him fall VIII
run ND and grab him. Then ! VIII yell
for a. doctor and get him down there
and we will go about it just as II he shot
himself. IL there are any questions
asked will tell them he shot himsel1
accidentally l was to say nothihg'
RosenbIuth told me-
Everything happened as scheduled,
Pothier stated in his alleged confession
and Major Cronkhi.e was shot in the
right breast After tho shooting PothIer
described the scene as follows:
'As Cronlkhite fe,! | heard another
shot from behind and Capt. Rosenbluth
came rushing UP on the scene. he
picked up Cronkhite and dragged his
body SO that 1t lay In a position parallel
with the road. Rosenbluth then drew
his pistol from it's holster and shot
hole through a tobacco can and said:
do not forget about this being target
practice and that the Major shot himself
accidentally If any questions are asked
about this let me do the talking and you
keep STILL
capt. Rosenbluth then looked over
Major Cronkhte and said, i think he Is
dead"
Doubtful How to Proceed.
Prosecutor Selden said he has five
separate statements alleged to have been
made by Pothier and turned over TO him
by Federal authorities. These vary in
some details.
The Board OF Inquiry at Camp Lewis
which investigated the death Of Major
Cronkhite decided he was killed by
bullet from his own pistol.
pothler and Rosenbluth have been
turned over to Mr.. Selden for prosecu-
tion, but he has not yet filed State
charges against them.
Despite the alleged confessions am
still somewhat in the dark" Mr.. Selden
said to-day. "and ! do not know how
TO proceed"
Mr. Seluen Salu ule aiteBcu confess
sions were in the form Of sworn state
ments.
There is no htrt OF a motive as to
why Rosenbluth sho' ID have desired the
death of Cronkhite." he - Id. "Pothier
also gives as his only reason for killing
Cronkhite that he was obeying the or
ders OF a commanding officer. This Is
r. weak point and It should be cleared
up before State charges are filed"
Jonah j. Goldstein, attorney for Rob-
ert Rosenbluth, said last night that his
client has been in Washington for
week aiding the Department Of Justice
IN It's investigation into the shooting of
Major CronShite Mr.. Goldstein said he
could not understand why Roland r.
Pothier. the former soldier accused OF
Staying the officer should make such a
statement Mr.. Roseubluth will be back
in New York to-day. according to Mr..
Goldstein. and is ready to proceed TO
Tacoma at any time that Prosecutor
Selden may desire TO see him.