New-York tribune., 1920-07-27
Col. Hunt Free
After, Trial i'm
Bergdoll Case
CastleWilliams Commander,
Charged With Neglect in
Draft Dodgers Escape,
Released From Arrest
Was Promoted Recently
Acquittal or Reprimand Is
Expected; Mrs. Bergdoll
Visits Erwin in Prison

Colonel John E. Hunt was released
yesterday soon after general court
martial at Governors Island had COM
pleted his trial on a charge Of neglect
of duty growing out of the escape Of
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, wealthy
draft dodger, last May.
While the verdict will not be an
nounced until after the department
commander has reviewed the findings,
his release from arrest means that he
has not been found guilty of charge
warranting dismissal or confinement.
The inference was drawn that Colonel
Hunt had been acquitted.
1t was said that the only other pen
atty which could be attached to the
proceedings would be reprimand.
Colonel William Weigel, Chief of Staff,
said the verdict probably would be an
nounced to-day or tomorrow.
Promoted Twice Since May
Colonel Hunt has been promoted
twice since Grover Bergdoll's escape,
it was brohght out yesterday when the
defendant took the witness stand. He
read Letter from the Secretary of War
advising him that, retroactive to July
!. he had been made colonel, and an
earlier letter. dated June "a, announc-
ing that he had been promoted from
Major to Lieutenant Colonel. The let
ter advising of his last promotion was
dated July % and was received by
Colonel Hunt last Sunday. between ses-
siops OF the courtmartial.
y.
Colonel Hunt as being inevitable un-
der the terms of the army reorganiza-
tion bill and as having nothing to do
with the case against him. He had
previously been retired for physical
disability, but was continued in active
service until successor could be ap-
pointed as comnlandant of Governor s
Island disciplinary barracks.
On the day when Colonel Hunts
trial began Erwin Bergdoll, brother of
Grover, surrendered himself at Cover
nor's Island headquarters.
Mrs. Emma c. Bergdoll, mother of
the pair, visited Erwin at the prison
yesterday. She reached the island
Hunt had been concluded and spent
an hour or more in company of Erwin
She is under Indictment by a Phila-
delphia gra<l jury for alleged con-
spiracy to aid in the escape of Grover.
Erwin Will Plead Not Guilty
Will Erwin plead guilty or not
guilty. Mrs. Bergdoll was asked.
Erwin will plead not guilty" she re-
piled uAhesitatingly. There is no rea-
son why hc should not Erwin was in
ried, had dependents and was running
farm. I don't sec how they can con-
vict Erwin when he was helping to
ralse crops, which the government
though. so important"
One OF the reporters suggested that
Grover might be in the airplane which
at that moment was passing overhead
Mrs. Bergdoll laughed heartily and
replied;
Yes that might be Grover. I
wouldn't be at all surprised if it was
him" Grover was once warned by the
Philadelphia police not to fly his" air
Can't Send Cigarettes to Son
Mrs. Bergdoll's complacency was in
terruptcd when the clerk in q candy
and cigar store on the pier at Fort Jay
told her that she could not send cigars,
candy and cigarettes to Erwin in
prison. She had already paid for the
49,
stocking for roll OF bills. She re-
turned TO Philadelphia last night.
Lieutenan. Colonel Cresson, assistant
departmental Judge advocate, who with
Captain Robert Hannay conducted the
prosecution Of Colonel Hunt, said he
had received the papers in Erwin S
case and had preferred charges against
him unGer the tifty-eighth article of
war for desertion. The principal diff
ference between Growers and Erwin $
cases, he said, was that Erwin had been
granted continuance at the time he
was called for duty under the selective
aerYice law. He could not say when
Erwin's case would come to trial
Sergeants O'Hare and Iork. who
constituted Growers armed escort on
his treasure expedition. are to be tried
for allowing their charge to escape. No
date has been set for their hearing
Colonel Hunt testified yesterday that
Grover and his counsel were to bear
all expenses attached TO the journey.