Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-04
QUESTION OF VERACITY Marks
!. HOUSE COMMITTEES HEARING
IN ESCAPE OF GROVER BERGO0[l
Judge Westcott, Aged Juror, Denies Having Been
Employed As Counsel In
The Case

at the investigation by house COM
mittee of the escape of Grover Cleve-
land Bergdoll, draft-dcserter.
Called to the stand before Mr.. An
sell. counsel FOR Bergdoll had com
pleted his statement. Judge wcscott.
who is 72 years old, denied the test-
mony of Ansell. in two essential de-
tails and declared with emphasis there
was not ruth in the report that he
had been engaged as associate coun-
sci. as Ansell had stated. to help get
Bcrkdoll from prison after he had
evaded the draft for nearly two years.
AS the judge went back to his seat.
Mr.. Ansell. who had heard part of
the denial. reiterated under oath that
every word of his testimony was true.
Just as his examination was about to
shift to other channels, Chairman
Peters turning to the judge asked II
ho desired to he heard.
Tho Judge was on his feet instantly.
Moving over toward the table across
from which Mr.. Ansell sat and re-
fusinE to he seated for five minutes
he let loose n torrent of denial. declar-
ing Ansell lacked the courage to step
aside and make the same charges.
Ansell broke in with the demand that
v IT were to be debate no wanted the
right to speak.
Seeing possibilities OF an impending
clash. Chairman Peters quickly stop
ped the discussion but not until the
Then picking up his hat he walked
out. with courteous and smiling
well. good bye. gentlemen"
First denying there was any shred
of truth In the statement by the late
Clarence Gbbony of Philadelphia. that
he had been employed in the Bergdoll
case and paid $3.50. judge wescott
declared he never went to sec Secre-
tary Baker in Bergdoll's behalf as
Anscll had testified. and that he knew
nothing OF the story of Bcrgdolrs
buried gold until he heard oS it in the
newspapers. Earlier Mr. Ansell had
testified that Judge Wcscott as a de-
fensc attorney had discussed with Glib
bony and himself the question of urE-
Ing the war department to permit tho
dodgers release under guard to go and
find It
The fact mas mentioned that
judge was warm friend OF Secretary
Baker and that he was tho man who
had twice placed Woodrow Wilson IN
nomination for president. Judge wes-
cott declared his only part in the cs4e
was tho sending to Mr.. Baker of a let
ter enclosing the Anseil brief In the
Bcrgdoll appeal which he regarded as
brilliant document and ono which
should have tho sccrctary's considcra-
ton.
Going back to the buried gold Judge
wescott looking Mr.. AnsclI in the eye.
exclaimed:
II never heard OF Il until Il came out
with tho news OF BerGdoil's escape
would suppose " a man OF Mr. An
sells ability could get crazy ideas in
his head and in view OF what happen
cd he would have left the COM
munity."
DcprecatinG the fact that two men
could be At such variance as TO the
facts. Judge Wescott said he wanted
to rcitcrato In Ansel's presence ''and
In his very teeth that the latter
know when no testified that statements
concerning him were untrue. Tho
Judge said Anscll had refused to rec
ognize him when they were only
few feet apart which led to much
questioning and to tho remark by
Judge Wcscott that tho lawyer must
have been conscious then OF making
statements he had no authority to
make.
Rut all doubt a to personal reia-
tiops between tho two was cleared
later by Mr.. Anscll who said he had
refused to SEQ Judge wcscott with
Gibbony some time ago and never
would meet him again.