Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-24
81, 200 FOR BERGDOLL
OFFERED BY LAWYERS
Government Bending Every En-
ergy to Capture Fugitive De-
serter Who Got a Big Start.

Washington. May 24.--Any person who
,rnbonds and delivers to the mill
.aI,, a,,tborities Grover Cleveland Berg
An convicted draft deserter, who es-
cened from his guards in Phlladelpma
Ers3av afternoon, will receive a reward oil
50 500 from Bergdoll's attorneys and 500
irom the War Department
ID. c. Gibboney of Philadelphia ana
tbe law firm of Ansell IL Bailey oi this
ritv have publicly offered reward OF sZ,5oo
for the capture OF their heelhg cIlcI1.
\dit Gen Harris made this statement
reaartling Bergdolis escape:
rbr request of the attorneys OF Berg
4 that he be permitted to leave the DIS
j1.t,0ary barracks under guard tor three
d5 in order that he might recover
lar,e SIM of money which he claimed 10
ha1e hidden was granted because we felt
~. were dealing with honorable men
who acted in good faith.
From the outset | doubted the
truth Of Bergdolrs claim that he had
hidden s15O.0O0 in gold com, but am
co9vinced Col. Ansen and Col. Bailey
believed his story. The fact that con
seatcd to the arrangement to reiease
Bergdoll under guard 4or TINS purpose
however, does not mean that | WAS coii-
viaced he was telling tho truth.
-sro.,,, releoscd under guard for the purpose
of securing additional evidence transact,
~, ,,rivsfa business and for other good
reasons the request of counsel Tor berg
doIl appeared TO be a reasonable one. III
- Granted because did not wish TO ap-
nsar unreasonable, and with the eXpheit
Understanding that Bergdoll would not
he ncrmitted to spend any time IN the city
Of Philadelphia.
The details of the arrangement were
left in the hands OF Major Hunt al fort
Jav who is an experienced othcer- l, was
exnresslv agreed by counsel thaJ DeIe
dail should leave the train at Norm Filli3-
dclphia and enter an automooiie Wlllcii i
was to be ready when the traih aIIINeeI, I ~
The nurnosc Of this arrangement was 10
,,r.,.int rho prisoner entering Philadelphia
when he was permitted to 60 70
his mothers home on the plea that the
a,.+onnahile was in need OF some repairs
tho exnrcss. agreement entered INTO with
b.s attorneys was violated. There were
49, number Of other automobiles IN
pb,Iade1nhia which could have been pro-
c,.ro3 without the slightest difficulty:
y.lnc Bercdoll himself owns several and
pr,nears to have made his escape IN one
ilt was conveniently placed III front
OF his house.
EVERY agency OF Jhe koNtI ailAlSil,
i ENGAGED in the hunt for Bergdoil, and
every other phase Of the matter IS under
investigation"
Gen. Harris appears to be convinced
that Bergdoll will attempt TO leave the
country. Acting on this theory, every
oort and outlet is being carefully watched
Ha NAV slip through in disguise and under
an assumed name. but will not be able q
80 any considerable amount OF money
ui+h him and escape detection.
The presence Of Judge Roamlg, az
associate OF Attorney Glhboney, N th'
case. In the house with Bergdol ans
Is army guard at the time the prisone
made his getaway, has been the suple,c
Il no little speculation IN othcial circle
Tal. AnseTl. who with his law part
,-~ was called into the Bergdoli cas-
sf+ar the rich draft evader had bee
convicted and sentenced to serve nv
v.grs. and solely for the purpose Ct re
viewing the case and preparing brlel
( not acquainted with Judge Roamlg.
Col. Anseu and his legal associate
are greatly exercised over the escap
of Bergdol, feeling under moral an
professional obligations TO bring apo-
his recapture.
vii be again haled before mlitaT
court on a charge Of escaping from
military guard. In time ofactual war the
i no limit to the punishment man ma
receive for this otfense. The court mlgf
order the prisoner shot.