The Washington herald., 1920-05-24
TROOPS CHILLED OUT OPRO7ECTMJRDERERF FROMMOE
Speed Hunt
For BergdoH
Customs Service and Coast
Guard to Help Search
For Stacker.

Incentive was given yesterday to
the man hunt now being carried on
for Grover Cleveland Bergdoll. con-
victed draft evader, who escaped
from his military guard in Philadel-
phia Friday afternoon, when his
Washington attorneys. AnselI and
Bailey. and d. C. Gibboney, his Phil
adelphia counsel, offered a Joint re-
ward of $2,5oo for his "appreheu-
sion and delivery to the military
Authorities"
The offer of a reward by the at
torneys was made following a
lengthy conference here. in which
Ansell, Bailey, and Gibboney took
part. and carried out the sugges-
tion made Saturday by the War
Department that it expected the at
torneys, through the offer of a
suitable reward and other proper
means, to apprehend Bergdoll at
the earliest practicable date"
u. $. Agents BahIed.
Agencies of the government which
are at work on the escape of Berg
doll were unable to report any
progress yesterday. There have
been reports from as many as four
widely separated States that an
automobile resembling the Bergdo:l
car had been seen.
Reiteration of the statement that
Bergdolls stopover in Philadelphia
was in direct violation of the agree
ment between the army officials and
his attorneys was voiced yesterday
by Gen. =. Z. Harris, adutant
general.
Many Agents in Search.
Additional steps taken by the gov
ernment which were disclosed yes
terday included the enlisting Of the
aid of the customs service, the
Coast Guard and the navy in the
search. Officials here believe that
arrangements may have been made
for a dash TO sea, either through
a passport obtained beforehand or
ON a private vessel.
Under the existing military law,
it was said yesterday. that the
United States would be unable to
Rergdoll from a foreign
4 GIbboney Explains Again.
Gibboney, who has been the OBJ
ject of criticism for his relations
toward the trip of Bergdon in the
hunt for the "rainbow's end" yes
terday gave some additional infor-
nation as to his status in the mat
ter. He denied specifically that
Bergdoll was turned over to his
care on reaching Philadelphia, but
says he was to act merely in the
role of guide.
81 did not consider that 1 was to
serve as anything but a guide" he
said. when Mr.. Bailey and 1 DIS
cussed the matter with Maj. Hunt
we took up the question of guards
and we were told that the COM
mandant at Castle william had a
thoroughly trustworthy man in
mind that would be placed in charge
of the prisoner.
after l met the party in Phila-
delphia. and was about to leave for
my office told the sergeants spe-
officially that they must not let
BergdolI get out of their sight. II
had considered that it was my
duty to see that Bergdoll did not
escape / would have had guards of
my own and would have been armed
myself l would have shot him' IL
he had attempted to escape"
Think Treasure Tale True.
The attorneys for Bergdoll also
i. IL IaNa
their belief that the story of the
was true.
Bailey, partner of Ansell. ex-
planned that Bergdoll had told both
his attorneys and army officers on
occasions in detail of tho
money and how he had buried it.
Baker Refuses Audience.
? 1t was also brought out yesterday
that Newton D. Baker. Secretary of
War, refused on Friday to see either
Ansell or Bailey when they went
to the War Department to report
the escape of Bergdoll. They called
first to see Gen. P. c. Harris, Adju-
tant General, and during the course
that the matter might be placed by
the attorneys before the Secretary
of War. Gen. Harris went person.
ally to arrange an interview but
was unable to do so Ansell, while
he was an officer in the army. came
into conflict with Baker and Gen.
Crowder over the conduct of the
court martial system.
Posters containing profile and
full face photograph of Bergdoll,
are in course OF preparation by the
War Department, and will be dis
tributed broadcast to police author
tiles and military posts today. They
will carry notice of the. reward
offered yesterday.
IPuhlic IedRer Seryirel