Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-02
u. S. AGENTS SEEK '
ERWIN BERGDOLL
Brother of Alleged Draft
Dodger Also Wanted by
Authorities
MOTHER UNDER BAIL
Brewers Widow Accused of
A i d in 6 Notorious Son,
Grover, to Escape Service

Agents Of the Department of Justice
are bending every effort to obtain some
clue to the whereabouts of Erwin
Bergdoll. younger brother OF Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, alleged draft dodger.
VINO is believed to be in Mexco
| The fact that Erwin Bergdoll had
also disappeared was brought out at
the hearing of his mother. Mrs. Louis
j. Bersdoll. in the Federal Building,
Yesterday, on charges that she aided
Grover to escape from the country. and
that she had knowledge Of where he
! Is now.
Erwin Bergdoll. the Government
agents assert. vanished about six weeks
ago. He had registered for selective
service, but failed to turn in his ques-
tlonnaire. and was reported to the De-
| partment of Justice.
The suspicion Of the Federal agents
were aroused, It was said today. by
| their discovery that the BergdolI estate
was calling mortgages and disposinr OF
IT'S real estate holdings in the wynne-
neld, Bala and Cynwyd sections for
cash. 1t was thought the money might
De forwarded to Grover and Erwin
Beredoll
Mrs Bersdoll was held under $4,000
pail by Commissioner Long following
her hearing yesterday
Charles v. Mallett and Joseph Nc.
levitt, agents Of the Department Of Jus
tlce, went to Mrs BergdoJrs home at
Fifty-second street and wynnefield ave-
nue. Yesterday, produced a search war:
rant and ransacked the house from cellar
10 sarret Tor letters or kilograms that
might show where the abscondins sor,
might be found. They said they found
what they were after-comn,unicatio tions
from Grover Bergdoll to his mother.
THESE. they intimated. enable them to Ak
the recent whereabouts of Grover, from,
which he may be traced His early Az
rest is predicted.
Albert Hall of 1910 wynnefield ave.
nue. MRS. Bergdoll's son-in-law, advised
OF her arrest, summoned D. Clarence
Iloponey. president Of the Law and
order Society, who Is her attorney. Glib
ooney advised that Mrs. Bergdoll answer
no questions. and what she said to her
interrogators is not known.
Government agents have been hunting
Tor Grover Bergdoll for many months
ana several times thought they we're
about to put their hands on him. He
was known to have been attentive to a
young woman living In this city and
her mail was carefully watched.
In due time she received letters ap-
parently from young Bergdoll; in fact.
she received a number of such COM
munica,ions. But to the great bewiider-
ment of the sdetectives. a letter arriv-
Ing on Monday would be dated and post
marked Seattle, Wash, while an.
other communication would reach her OF,
Wednesday, seemingly in the same hand
writing signed in the same way, but
dated and postmarked Waco, Tex. on
other occasions two letters would ap-
pear on the same day. one dated and
postnarked San Francisco, Cal, and
Miami, Fla. 0--.
As 1t was manifestIy impossible for
Bergdoll to have been In such widely
separated cities within four days. the
Government agents finally concluded
that the letters were merely blinds, sent
by tonfederates for the purpose Of ham,
pering the pursuit Of the young man.
Grover Cleveland Bergdolls abscond-
ing from the draft capped the climax
OF his erratc performances In and
around Philadelphia For years he had
been the person in the city to provide
sensations when all others failed. He
burned UP the roads of philadelphia ana
adjoining counties with his high-pow-
cred racing cars, defying constables and
laughing at them. When arrested he
would fight conviction in the courts.