Evening star., 1920-05-22
NATIONWIDE HUNT
BY j. S. BEGUN FOR
GROVER BERCDOLL
Search for Rich Draft Dodg-
er, Who Escaped Yester-
day, to Be Thorough.


Rv the Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA, May 22-Grovel
Cleveland Bergdol1. the wealthy draft
dodser, escaped from non-commis-
stoned Army officers at his mother's
home here yesterday in high-p9w
cred motor car and was still at liberty y
today. Both federal and city author
tiles sal that an all-night search
had failed To reveal even the direction
in which nc went
shortly after Bergdoll got away the
police covered all avenues of escape
around the city. and every place 1t
was thought he would be likely to go
was closely watched throughout the
night Flyers describing the fugitive
and the car in Which he made his
escape were sent to all sections of the
country and it was announced that a
systematic search would be made for
him.
Convinced He Was aided.
The exact nature of Bersdoll's visit
to Philadelphia, which was considered
of sufficient Importance to warrant
his temporary release from the mill
tary prison at Fort jay. n y. where
ne was serving a fve-year sentence
for cvading the draft. has not been
explained According to the military
authorities at Governors island ne
was. given threc-day furlough 10
attend 70 Important business mat
t"rs-' which were said to be conf
Dental.
Department Of Justice agents here
arc investigating certain aspects OF
the case which they say point strong
" to colluSion, WhilN they would
not say upon whom their suspicion
rested they declared they were con-
WINGED that Bergdoll was aided in his
escape.
When he got away Rergdoll was
dressed in his Army prison earb of
olive drab denim and on A metal disc
which he wore on a string about his
neck was his convict number. 10.
Escaped in Motor Car.
Ber-roll made his escape about 5
o'clock YESTERDAY. 1t was said the
two Sergeants had spent the night Al
The Eprgdoll home. which is on the
outskirts of the city. During the aft
ernoon he was entertaining the SER
Eeants with recitationS from Shake
Speare according TO James l.. Romig.
q friend Of the Bergdoll family. who
was present. \ telephone hell rang
and RergdoIl said he would answer
it. He left the room and. as the bell
kept ringing. the two sergeantS he
came suspicious and investigated. His
car. which had been standing in front
of the house. had disappeared and
BerCdoll with it.
The two sergeantS quickly tele
phored nolice HEADQUARTERS and every
avenue of escape around the city was
covered by the city authorities.
Mrs. Emma G. Bergdoll. the fuGi-
tive's mother was not at home when
her son escaped, but returned shortly
afterward.
Bergdoll was convicted of dcsertion
by Armv court-martial at Governors
Island March so and sentenced to five
years in the old prison ar Fort Jay.
The trial began March and vas
marked bv efforts on the part of
Bergdol. through a corps of attor-
aeys. to prove he was mentally de-
hcient and not responsible for his
disappearance. The effort to prove
his insanity served only to DELAY the
trial, 1unacy commission of Army
officers deciding against him.
Bergdoll. twenty-eight years old is
wealthy. having inherited about $780,
900 from his father, who was
brewer
Brother still Fugitive.
Rergdoll's brother. Erwin z Berg
ioll. well known motor car racer. still
s A fugitive from Justice He also
disappeared instead of answering the
fraft call and has not been heard of
since with the exception of one brush
With the police. when he paid fly
'ng motor car visit to his mothers
-ionit- W. brOtHeIS OF Grover
had their names changed by courts to
escape the notoriety attached to
Grover BergdoIl's name.
Mrs Rergdoll was convicted in the
county court Thursday or a charge
~ wantonly pointing pistol at gov
"rnment agents at the time Grover
vas captured at her home last jan
nary. She was fined s219 and costs
AZ the time of the CAPTURE she fought
on city policemen and federal officers
and 1t was charged, threatened to
shoot to kill.
Philadelphia Not Only Objective.
NEW YORK. May 2o-Grover
cleveland Bergdoll. convicted draft
nVader- who escaped yesterday
no the custody Of two non-com-
nissioned officers in Philadelphia.
vas sent there 20 sign confidential
Instructions" MAJ. Henry j. Hunt
commanding the Fort Jay disciplinary
'arracks here. in which BergdoIl was
~erving five-year term, ANNOUNCED
He left here under guard of two
7on-commissioned officers Thursday
morning" Maj. Hunt said "Philadel-
phia was not his objective. but he had
% stop there to sign certain conf
'lential instructions"
Officials of the eastern department
With headquarters at Governors Is
and. issued statement that BergdolI
aas not been in their jurisdiction
7ince he was sentenced last March.
he disciplinary barracks. it pas ex-
@lained, arc responsible solely to the
adjutant generals department in
Washington.