New-York tribune., 1920-05-25
u. S. w armed OF
Bergdoll Flight,
Palmer Admits
Attorney General Asserts
His Department Was Told
of Plot, but Says Army
Had Charge of. Prisoner
Legion May Aid Search
T. W. Miller Scores Baker
for Letting Stacker Go
Con a Rainbow Chase"

From, Tho Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 24.-American
Legion members throughout the coun-
try may be enlisted in the search for
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, the mil
lionaire Philadelphia draft dodger, who
escaped from his military guard Fri
day while in Philadelphia.
Thomas w. Miller, chairman of the
national Legislative committee of the
Legion, to-day suggested to National
Commander d'Oler to direct all posts
of the country to engage actively in the
hunt for the prisoner.
In statement Miller arraigned Sec
retary of War Baker for the War De-
l,artment's policy of "lieniency" toward
conscientious obiectors. which. Miller
contended, "permitted a man like Berg
doll to be out of prison on rainbow
chase"
Palmer's Admission
Another development to-day was the
admission, reluctantly made, by At
torney General A. Mitchell Palmer that
the Departmen tof Justice was warned
on April 80 that Bergdoll would seek
ms release from the Fort Jay military
prison The Attorney Generals state
Military Intelligence Division of the
army had received the first informa-
ton that Bergdoll sought to get his
liberty. The statement disavowed any
responsibility for BergdoIl's escape.
Attorney General Palmer's statement
said:
Il have noted in the press state
ment to the effect that the Department
OF Justice had received letter of
warning that Grover Cleveland Berg
doll would attempt to make his escape
and by Inference placing the blame
upon the department for not having
anticipated and prevented Bergdolls
escape.
al he department received a letter
from one of its special agents dated
April 80, 1920, which is the only let
ter received and is unquestionably the
one referred to in the dispatches, to
the effect that Bergdoll would make
application for writ of habeas corpus,
Ct the custody of the War Department
and place him in the custody of
marshal or deputy marshal; that pend
ing these proceedings he would at
tempt to make his escape or, if allowed
bail. would jump his bail bond.
"The bureau of investigation made
its plans. therefore, to prevent any es-
seape in case of application for writ of
was ever made and BergdoiI au IppdicT'rol did not
come within the jurisdiction of the
Department of Justice in any manner
that would warrant our interference
"At the time of Bergdoll's escape he
was in the jurisdiction and custody of
the. Department of War.
Excuses Department
"The information embodied in the
letter above referred to first came to
the attention of one of the officers of
the Military Intelligence Division of
the War Department, who communi-
Gated the information to our agent.
The War Department, therefore, was
IN possession of the same information
that the Department of Justice had"
Secretary Baker was without infor-
nation to-day on the progress made in
the search Tor the missing prisoner.
He said that the War Department has
called on the Department of Justice
and the customs service for their CO.
operation, and that all the agencies of
the army, notably the Military Intell-
gence Division, would be utilized in
the search. Circulars describing Berg
doll and the details of his escape have
been sent broadcast by the War De-
partment.
The investigation of Inspector Cen
eral Chamberlain of the War Depart
ment, Secretary Baker said, would in
clude visits to Fort Jay and Philadel-
phia and the interrogation of all indi-
viduals, military and civil, involved in
the escape of the prisoner He will be
given a complete report of all the evil
dence gathered by the army inspectors.