The New York herald., 1920-01-08
ZSSAy x Tie 6ERGDCLl-
ny,4 HOME SURROUNDED
49, by POLK e
sstyoyos.G e. n zsDess P,,o7u SEs.
Seized After Fight at Mothers
Home, He Tells of Wander
ings in Many States.

Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, motorist,
aviator and wealthy son of a deceased
Philadelphia brewer. is in a cell of
Castle William, on Governors Island, to
await trial by court martial on a charge
of desertion from the army in time of
war. Both Bergdoll and--hs brother
Erwin. who is still at large, are accused
of failing to answer the summons of
their local draft board in Philadelphia
when ordered to appear for physical ex-
ANIMATION and entrainment Federal au-
thorities have been seeking them for
two years all over the United States, in
Mexico and in Cuba. The extreme penalty
for their offence is death, but the proba-
bility is that they will. upon conviction,
be sentenced to serve twenty years in the
army prison at Leavenworth, Kan.
Bergdol, who is twenty-six years old,
was arrested yesterday morning in the
home of his mother, Mrs. Emma C. Berg
doll, in Philadelphia. from which he and
his brother fled IN 1917. He was arrested
only after a party of federal agents, who
had been held at bay for hours by Mrs.
Bergdoll with loaded revolver, made a
concerted rush upon front and rear en-
frances to the house, and took the wea-
pom away from her in a rough and tumble
flight.
The agents, assisted by the Philadelphia
police, rushed through the house in search
OF the young man. They found him inside
a window box seat on the second floor, a
blue blanket wrapped around him and his
head concealed by pillows. Three police
men looked into the box seat without Sec
ing him, before one of them lifted the Pill
lows and made the capture.
House n VeritabIe Arsenal
A further search of the house revealed
lit to be a veritable arsenal. In addition to
a three-foot stack of pro-German pam
phlets the federal agents found in the din
ing room n 12-gauge automatic pump gun
with large supply of shells handy. On
the oak buffet were seven boxes of shells
for the thirty-eight calibre revolver which
had been wrested from Mrs. Bergdoll
There was also an automatic rifle with a
silencer attachment, large dagger and
other weapons, all of which were confis-
Gated.
Mrs. Bergdoll. who was arrested several
times during the war for obstructing the
efforts of the federal authorities TO locate
her sons. was arrested once more, on a
charge of aggravated assault and battery
with intent to kill A Magistrate held her
in $4,000 bail for the Grand Jury. Bail
was furnished by her son-in-law.
Although born in this country, the Berg
dolls are OF German descent. They de-
clared they never would fight against Ger
many. At one time Grover offered his ser
vices to Germany as an aviator. through
he IN, DhiIada1rbfa uyac q
said.
News OF the young mans arrest spread
throughout the exclusive suburb in which
the BergdolIs live. BY the time the au-
thorities were ready to leave the house n
large crowd had gathered. threatening vio-
lence TO the prisoner.
According to Special Agent John Joseph
o'Connor. of the Department OF Justice.
who. with Captain Jesse y. Cottrell, of the
Army Intelligence Service. brought the
prisoner TO this city, the crowd was so
menacing that the agents instead Of wait
ing for their own automobile, comman-
deered a passing car and sped with Berg
doll to the Federal Building. W. II. Har-
mon, a West Philadelphia business man
and owner OF the commandeered vehicle,
was so pleased at the news OF the arrest,
he said. that he gave the arresting officer
500 cheque.
Arraycd In Army Overcont.
When Bergdoll appeared at Governors s
island ne wore an army overcoat that had
been loaned him, as when he was captured
ne was coatless. vestiess and collarless and
had three days growth OF beard. He
said II was the first time he had worn an
army ovcrcoat and that II felt fine
I'm glad was captured" Bergdoll told
newspapermen. 81 have not been able to
rest since / went away; IL was great
load on my mind" He appeared haggard
and worn out by anxiety.
Though both he and his brother we're
reported at various times in Mexico and
In Cuba and agents were sent TO these
countries 20 look for them. Bergdoll said
he never left the United States. He only
saw his brother once, he said. and that
was In Cincinnati several months ago.
Bergdoll said he met q friend on the
street In August, 1917, who told him that
he had been accused OF desertion. and that
he had better beat IT," Accordingly he
took $1,000 and his motor car and started
out More than $4,000 OF that sum was
spent, no said.
He motorcd ieisurcly westward. he de-
clared, until his vehicle broke down. then
went by rail TO San Francisco. bought
new auto. started eastward. and FOR
several months has been In MARYLAND and
virginia. making five flying trims 10 hIs
nome. In Lurny. Va. ho stayed for n tirne
IN tho great cave there.
IN Peoria. ILL.,, BergdeIi said, he was