New-York tribune., 1920-05-23

hs-a just spoken to you, in behalf o1
Gr"ver Cleveland Bergdoll, togethe,
with brief statement of the reasons
therefor.
Plea for Prison Furlough
"Ths man, in virtue Of his convic-
tlon and sentence as a so-called draft
deserter,' is now imprisoned at Fort
Jay, pending the review Of his trial by
the War Department. l am his attor-
ney His home counsel in Philadelphia
is Mr.. d. C. Gbboney, of unexcelled
repute as man and lawyer. OF counsel
also, in q consulting capacity, is Judge
Westcott, of New Jersey, whom doubt
less the Secretary we'll knows. These
gentlemen visited me last Friday and
related to me'a situation which we be-
lieve to be true and which impels US to
submit this request.
"This young man was reared father.
less, under family conditions, which
even when partly revealed, throw con.
siderable light upon conduct of his
| that, to say the least, is strange il
not unintelligent. From his father he
inherited wealth. Apprehending the
! ct times has openly submitted and at
others has become secretive of his
wealth. This latter, perhaps, is the
most influential of the many complex
motives for his action in the instance
| now speak of.
"In any event, it is now known that
he did secrete one large sum of money
which was recovered a year or so ago
He now declares that he also hid a
second large sum, the remainder of his
fortune ($15o,000), in lonely spot on
journey from this city; that he placed
the gold coin in a metallic container
and took it himself, unaccompanied,
and hid it in a spot which he alone
can identify. Circumstances indicated
the truth of his statement
. "He is now wrought up with fear and
anxiety lest he may never recover the
money, and accordingly earnestly asks
me, other counsel joining him, to en-
deavor to arrange it that he may 60,
undT guard and with his counsel, to
recover the money and place it in safe
keeping, all expenses to be borne by US.
I'VE are requesting no privilege
only the necessary liberty of action,
under guard. This prisoner has no de-
sire to escape, nor could he if he want
ed to. Notwithstanding the guard, as
his counsel | stand responsible for his
prompt return to prison, without ad-
vantage to him other than involved in
the object of his request.
II hope this request may be granted
Immediately. 1t seems reasonable and
right to me, and also to you, and l
hope-and doubt not-that it will
seem so to the Secretary"
The Ansell- Bailey statement further
said:
eve heard nothing about the matter
after the arrangement was made until
Friday afternoon, May 21, at $3.50,
when General Ansell was called over
the telephone by Mr.. Gibboney who
said that he was fearful that Bergdol
had escaped. The circumstances as re-
lated to us over the telephone seemed
confused. We advised Mr.. Gibboney
to notify the police Immediately, take
such step as he could to apprehend
Bergdoll and to direct the guard i'm
medately to notify the commandant of
the prison at Governors Island. We
vent at once and notified the Adjutant
General of the Army.
I'VE know nothing of what happened
at PHILADELPHIA nor of the circum,
stances of the escape other than what
is contained in the press reports AMI
brief conversations over the telephone
with Mr.. Gibboney We, Of course,
shall do everything within our po-vcr
to see that Bergdoll is apprehende H.