New-York tribune., 1920-01-08
Bergdoll, Long
Hunted Draft
Dodger, Takei,
Armed With Pistol and
Blackjack, Mother Tries
to Prevent Capture of Son
in Philadelphia Home

Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, the Phila-
delphia millionaire draft dodger, who
outwitted the Federal authorities for
more than two years throughout the
country, now lies in solitary confine-
ment in Castle Williams, Governors
Island, awaiting military court mar
tlal. His brother Erwin is still at lib
erty, charged with the same offense.
His arrest yesterday by Secret Serv-
ice men in the home of his mother.
Mrs. Emma C. Bergdoll, at 81 Winfield
Avenue, Philadelphia, was a dramatic
climax to the two-year chase, while
the ceremony of transferring him to
the custody of the military authorities
was the most impressive ever wit
messed on Governors Island.
Bergdoll was found covering inside
box seat alongside a window in the
room where his mother defiad the Sc
cret Service men and police officers
with a revolver and blackjack. The
authorities surrounded the Bergdoll
mansion early yesterday morning, and
crowd watched the arrest. Unable to
get any response to their repeated bell
ringing, the police officers finally burst
in through the rear door of the house.
Mother Defies Police
They dashed into the room where
Bergdoll was hiding, there to find Mrs.
Bergdoll resolutely facing them with
a revolver. One of the officers made a
desperate lungc at Mrs. Bcrgdoll and
succeeded in wrestling the revolver
from her. During the struggle another
officer leaped forward and took the
blackjack. Mrs. Bergdoll was then
placed under arrest, charged with as
sault and battery with intent to kill
and conspiracy to prevent the execu-
tion of search and arrest warrants.
Bergdoll, who before the war was a
noted automobile racer and aviator.
was dragged from his hiding place,
only partially dressed. He received an
army overcoat from Captain Jesse S.
Cottrell, of the Military Intelligence
Department, and after brief examina-
tion was brought to this city.
According to the Federal agents, dur
ing the period preceding the arrest in
Philadelphia a man in the crowd out
side the Bergdoll home offered check
of $500 to the officer who made the
arrest. Immediately after Bergdoll
was arrested, they said, the man made
out the check, and said he was w. II.
Harmon, of the Southwark Foundry, ON
Twelfth Street, Philadelphia The
check was turned over to the Philadel-
phia police.
First Prisoner Goes to Fort Jay
On arrival in this city Bergdoll was
taken by his escort to Governors Isl
and and there turned over to Colonel
John c. F. Tilson, commander of Fort
Jay. While waiting to see Colonel Til
son Bergdoll told a disjointed story Of
his wanderings during the two years
he had evaded arrest.
He said that he had wandered over
the country as far as San Francisco
and had made three or four surrep-
titious visits to his mother in Philadel-
phia. At the time Bergdol disappeared
from Philadelphia, on August 6, 1917, it
was said that he had taken $65,O0O with
him. Asked about this, he laughed, and
said: "Oh, had couple of hundred
dollars with me-"
ters Bergdoll was taken out into the
courtyard. There he was lined up be-
hind two officers, and a guard of three
fully armed soldiers took up the rear.
In this manner he was marched over to
Castle Williams, while practically the
entire garrison turned out to watch the
proceedings.
He will be brought to trial in about
three weeks time on the charge of
being dcserter. Owing to the fact
that peace-time penalties are now
being enforced by executive order,
bergdoll faces term OF eighteen
months imprisonment. He is now
twenty-six years aid and reputed to be
worth 80 ()()(1 OOn