The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-02
Another Mystery

Tacoma, Wish. - In trials beginning
here Sept. 80 in which Robert Rosen-
bluth and Roland Pothier are charged
with wilful murder, the federal court
is endeavoring to unravel death mys-
terry that goes back to the fall of 1918
and into the great war cantonment at
Camp Lewis, Wash.
On Oct. 25 of that year, while some
$4,000 soldiers were training in the
camp, Major Alexander Cronkhite, a
graduate OF West Point and son of
Major General Adelbert Cronkhite, was
on practice march. While the column
was resting, he went into an adjacent
copse of timber, followed by Captain
Rosenbluth and Sergeant Major Poth-
Ter. A few minutes later several shots
were heard, and 1T was reported that
Major Cronkhite was wounded. An
examination revealed that he had been
shot in the breast, and he expired be-
fore medical aid could be summoned.
The body of the officer was taken to
the Camp Lewis hospital, where it was
found that he had been killed by a
bullet that entered his chest on the
right side, few inches below and in
front of the arm pit.
Five days later the usual investiga-
tion by an army board was conducted.
This board arrived at the conclusion
that the major had accidentally shot
himself while firing at target At
the time it was the general rumor that
it was case of suicide, according to
subsequent statements of army officers.
Rosenbluth and Pothier, both testi-
fed at the military investigation and
their testimony was substantially the
same. They said that Major Cronk-
hite had pulled out his pistol to fire
at tin can, that two or three shots
were fired, and then the major fell
mortally wounded.
Renew Investigation.
The findings were sent to the war
department and apparently the matter
was ended with the burial of the bril-
liant young officer, and the deposit of
the official decree of the investigating
board in the governmental archives
Major General Cronkhite, however,
came home from France in June, 1919,
and reopened the investigation in the
belief that his son did not commit
suicide, that he was too expert with a
pistol to have shot himself accident
ally, and that it was impossible for an
accidental shot to have wounded him
in the spot where the fatal bullet en-
tered.
Records Faulty.
General Cronkhite consulted all avail
able records in the case and declared
them faulty. He then took the matter
up with A. Mitchell Palmer, attorney
general under President Wilson, and
several government Investigators were
set to work. Rosenbluth and Pothier,
the last persons with Major Cronkhite
before his death, were questioned
again. On March 10, 1921, Pothier
signed confession that he was res
ponsible for the death of Major Cronk-
hite. Pothier said his pistol was dis
charged accidentally.
The next day Pothier TERED his
story and confessed that he had will
fully shot and killed Major Cronkhite
at the request and command of Captain
Rosenbluth. Pothier said he had Dor
rowed pisto, and ammunition at the
instigation of Rosenbluth, and had kill
ed Major Cronkhite according to a
plan mapped out by Rosenbluth. Poth
Ter explained that Rosenbluth had a
strange influence over him, but denied
that he had received any reward or
promise, for accomplishing the alleged
murder beyond the pledge that he
would be protected completely.
Pothier made several statements in
the course Of his confessions, and they
varied considerably from each other
He was lodged in jail at Providence, R.
l., near which city he was working on
a railroad. Rosenbluth was taken into
custody in New York City. He declar-
ed the charges utterly without founda- 4
ton.
A few days later Pothier asserted in
interviews that he had been
induced to confess to the murder by
third degree methods. He denied his
guilt Federal officials have contended
that he never officially repudiated his
signed confessions, though the trend of
events may have precluded such action
on his part.
There then arose question whether
the federal government or the state of
Washington has jurisdiction in the
case This was finally decided in fay-