Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-02
GATHER WITNESSES
AGAINST BERGDOLL.
Col. cresson, Prosecutor, Here
to Quiz Those Who viii
Testify to Desertion
HAS IMPRESSIVE ARRAY

An impressive array of witne.so.
have been gathered to appear arainst
Erwin Bergdoll when he answers ~
charge of deserting the United statss
army in time Of war at Governors
island on Tuesday of next week.
Judge" James E. Romig, former
magistrate, known as pump handle
Jimmy" on the islanr, bedahse of his
handshaking proclivities, viii appear AS
witness for the prosecution. He will
be subpoenaed.
The appearance Of the "judge" for
the prosecution Is a surprise, as he Il
very close friend of Erwin and his
fugitive brother, who escaped while
serving a five-year sentence for de-
sertion.
Al. Hall, son in law of Mrs.
Emma C. Bergdoll, mother of the
slackers, is another close family con-
nection summoned for the prosecution.
Mayor Kennedy, of Lancaster, also
will be subpoened. His connection with
the case has not been announced.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Cres.
son, who prosecuted Grover and who
will prosecute Erwin, Is in the CITY
today to interview his witnesses here.
Among those he interviewed were:
Hall. Chairman William +. Ellis, Of
the draft board with which Erwin reg.
istered from his Broomal home; Dr..
ii. f. Taylor who examined Erwin
George Barber, board secretary; A. A,
Hamilton, member of the district
board; j. W. Hatton, justice of the
peace at Broomal. before whom Erwin
swore to his questionnaire; Il. J. Bet
ton. justice Of the peace -at Newtowu
Square, and Chief Of Police William
Hallisey, of Haverford township, who
were notified that Erwin was fugitive
from justice; Samuel l.. Pencoast, reg.
istrar of the draft board, and Mjaor
William 8. Murdock, draft director for
Pennsylvania.
Colonel Cresson said he would call
Mrs. Bergdoll to testify, because, he
said, "she might throw monkey
wrench in the machinery Of Justice"
THE case against Erwin is stronger
because none OF the witnesses is an
tagonistic to him, in fact some of them
are frankly in favor of him." Colonel
Cresson said.
But the testimony of the fifteen wit
nesses from Philadelphia and Delaware
county will be backed up bv strong
documentary evidence which we could
not marshal against Grover" o'
Colonel Cresson. who is accompanied
by Lieutenant Thomas L. Heffernan and
Field Clerk Riley, will return to New
York tonight and begin preparing the
case. ,E
Harry B. Pierce. chief agent of the
bureau of investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice here, and Assistant
United States District Attorney WAL
nut, who Is III charge of the civil prose
cutions growing out Of the Bergdoll
case, are aiding Colonel Cresson.
Wartime Desertion Charged
Erwin Bergdoll Is in the Jail at
Governors Island. Grover, who escaped
while serving his sentence, is expected
to surrender. o'",
Erwin will be tried on the same
charge as Grover, Colonel Cresson said.
violation Of the fifty eighth article OF
war, desertion in time of war; ~.
The penalty is death or any other
penalty the court martial shall direct. I"
II cannot say yet whether the gov
,rnment will produce any witnesses at
The court martial to show where Err
win was during the two years he evaded
lrrest.' Colonel Cresson said. "There
will be no such witnesses among those
expect to see here on this visit. The
government has complete case and
he proceedings at the court martial
will speak for themselves, /"