Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-22
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, s

nor's Island, n. Y, sometime between
last August 10 and 20 when Mrs. Berg
doll visited the post and demanded bag
gage and books left there by Grover.
az refused to give them to her."
Colonel Cresson said. Then she
showed me powers of attorney designat-
| ing her as the person to handle all
Growers business. But / still refused
to deliver the articles.
Then she told me she wanted them
SO she could give them to Grover and
told me she was collecting all his rents
and other debts and was giving or send
ing them to him."
Corroborative evidence to support the
charge that Braun held up federal
agents who searched his home for Erwin
Bergdoll while the fugitive was making
his escape was offered today.
Joseph McDevitt. Federal agent, was
the witness upon whose testimony the
prosecution depended to corroborate the
testimony of Fitzhugh Lee Creedon, who
yesterday testified that Braun told him
OF delaying the federal agent while
Erwin escaped
L. s. Agents Were Tricked
The alleged delay and escape oc-
CURED January Of this year in
Braun's Broomall home. Braun's home
was raided simultaneously. with those Of
Erwin and Grover earlyin the morn
ling. Grover was captured at his
home at Fifty second street and Wyn-
nefield avenue. hiding under window
seat.
McDevitt commanded the party that
invaded Brauns home and told today
of the subterfuge by which he was de-
layed from mounting the stairs.
A woman called down twice that he
couldn't come up because she was not
fully dressed. Then Braun, fully
clothed, came downstairs and delayed
him by arguing
Creedon said yesterday, Braun told him
that Erwin slipped down the rear stairs
Of the house and made his escape.
The first witness called was Charles
Krause, twenty six years old, of 1915
North Twenty ninth street, in close
proximity to the old Bergdoll home at
Twenty ninth and Cambridge streets.
Former Soldier Testifes
Krause is employed as bookkeeper
and paymaster by the Hall Concrete
operated by Al Hall, a son in law Of
Mrs. Bergdoll.
He said that he had known the
Bergdolls since childhood, and had
known Romig about twelve years. He
had worked for Hall eight years, be
said Krause was in the army and served
In France. He was a soldier from
February 25, 1918, until July %, 1919.
He told of meeting Grover two days
after he left the service, and OF meet
ing him frequently after that. Two
or three times a week, be said, he would
meet Grover at Fifty. second and Mar
ket streets or at his own home.
He also told Of cunning trip he
started on with Braun on November 8
Of last year. They left the Braun home
at Broomall, he said. and headed for
Oxford, Pa. Their machine developed
ignition trouble and while they we're re.
pairing it just east Of Broomall another
machine in which were Erwin and
Grover and Richard Schroedel, friend,
who testified yesterday, came along.
Slackers on Cunning Trip
Grover and Erwin, Krause said. per.
suaded Braun and himself to change
their plans and go cunning with them
to Rising Sun, Md. On the night of
November 0, he said, the party slept
in barn about five miles from Rising
GUN. AlttI I'LL Tue next Gay
they went into Rising Sun and got
hotel accommodations for the night.
Krause said he slept with Erwin.
Schroedel and Grover. be said, slept to-
gether, and Braun slept alone. Yester-
day Schroedel testified that Krause and
Braun slept together and that he, Err
win and Grover had separate rooms.
The following day, the witness said,
the two machines returned toward Phil.
adelphia, the car in which Grover, Err
win and Schroedel were riding continu-
ing OF, toward PHILADELPHIA when Krause
and Braun left the Baltimore pike to
90 to Braun's home at Broomall.
Krause said the meeting with the
Bergdolls and Schroeder on the road
was accidental, and that during the trip
Braun had given the Bergdolls no finan-
cial or other assistance.
McDevitt was the next witness. He
told of the trip to the Braun home
about 8 o'clock on the morning of Jan
uary this year. With him, he said
when he entered the back door, was
Deputy Marshal Kelly and man
named Campbell, not an official. The
party, he said, explained their errand
TO two women servants, and then went
to the foot of the front stairway.
Braun Spared for Time
II was then that he had the converse =
tion with a woman, which prevented
him from going upstairs. Braun, he
said. came downstairs and made each
agent show his credentials. When
Campbell could show no credentials,
Braun made him leave the house. 1t
was while this delay was going on that
Creedon said Erwin escaped.
I'VE introduced Mr.. McDeyitt To
show the methods that Braun followed
which led to the delay during which
Erwin made his getaway" Mr.. Nc
Avoy, United States attorney, ex-
planned.
Two agents were outside the house,
but did not sec Erwin get free.
Leo German, acting chief agent Of
the local Office Of the Department Of
Justice investigating bureau at the time
of the raid was then called to the
stand.
Repeats Story Of Arrest
German told of the raid on the home
Of Mrs. Bergdoll and Grover, which
was made about the same time Nc
Dewitt led the descent on Braun S
home.
Mrs. Bergdoll. he said, refused them
admittanCe and threatened to shoot the
first man who entered, despite the fact
that German showed his authority aud
produced search warrant.
German said he sent man TO the
front door This man, he said. broke a
window, and when Mrs. Bergdoll's $ at.
tcntOn was attracted to it, another man
shot the bolt of the back door and Cor.
man and others entered.
4 II ~.