San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-13
ericsson SAYS
ARMY MEASURE
Unfair To HIM
Explains That He Prose-
cuted BergdolIs With
Vigor.
RECALLS A THREAT
Major Here Says Congress
Will Not Pass Bill De-
nying Him Pay.

That an attempt to deny him furth
er army pay through congressional ac
ton is an effort on the part of the
Bergdoll family 10 get revenge against
him for his prosecution of members oi
that family for draft evasion. is the
opinion OF Mai c. c. Cresson of Fort
Sam Houston.
Major Cresson was Judge advocate
Of the court-martial that sentenced
Grover c. Bergdoll. Irving Bergdoll
and others. At that time, states Major
Cresson, a threat 10 get" him was
made by other members Of the Berg
doll family.
In the army appropriation bill as
reported Wednesday. further pay is
denied IL Major Cresson and Col.
John f. Hunt commander of the
disciplinary barracks at Fort Jay, y.
Y. where Grover c. Bergdoll was
confined.
Major Cresson's statement follows
General Billiard. the judge advocates
who were in the case, and every men,
Der of the court-martial which tried
and acquitted Colonel Hunt stated that
/ did my full duty and earnestly en-
deavored to secure his CONVICTION. As
Judge advocate. was merely the pros
ecuting attorney and had no vote and
was not responsible for the vote of the
court, having done my full duty TO Sc
cure conviction.
Convicted Several BergdOlls.
"As trial judge advocate / tried
and convicted Grover Cleveland Ber-
lon ~nI kafora annfhnr naupt
Bergdoll and got both Of them sem
fenced to Leavenworth. At my own
personal expense and time | appeared
before three United States courts and
secured Indictment and was of great
assistance in attaining the conviction
of Mrs. Bergdoll. another BergdoH
named Braun and Romig and two
others.
Il never appeared as n witness he
fore the Bergdoll investigating COM
mittee although I requested to do so
both by letter and telegram in the hope
that | could be of assistance to the
committee.
THE attack made on me by seme o.
the Bergdoll investigating committee
written by Ben johnson of Kentucky
was done behind my back without Civ
ing me hearing and it is false in
every particular.
Knows Bill Will Not Pass.
why any attempts should be made
to deny me army pay is beyond my
comprehension. / have always done my
duty fearlessly and well. j have never
been court-martialed and 1 demand
and insist that get justice which has
too long been denied me.
''Of course / know that Congress
would not pass a bill depriving me of
my pay, since, If i had done anything
in the world which was improper, l
would have been court-martialed and
dismissed.
"At the time Of the trial of the
Bergdoll family in Philadelphia one
of the members warned me that they
would get me- l was never given a
chance to appear before the commit
tee investigating the case although /
repeatedly requested to do so.
Fighting in the Dark.
cat the time that the minority re-
port was turned in criticising me,
made a full statement. A committee
of San Antonio men including Fraz
Groos, w. Is. Tuttle and the American
Legion sent copies of The Light con-
tanning that statement to every mem
Der of the House and Senate.
Someone whom l do not know is
fighting me behind my back based on
the alleged whitewashing of Colonel
Hunt. Colonel Hunt stated to the
COMMITTEES that prosecuted him dur
ing the trial. And yet with this
statement and with that of all men,
hers of the court that i prosecuted
Colonel Hunt vigorously, this minority
report was turned in criticising me,
actuated, believe, by some enemy
fighting in the dark.
THE majority report cleared me of
any charged Of laxity in the prosecu-
ton of Colonel Hunt Certainly, no
one can accuse me Of laxity in prose
cutting the five members of the Berg
doll family"