Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-22
GROVER BERGDOLL,
DESERTER, ESCAPES
Draft Dodger Fools Guards by
Dash From Mothers Home
in an Automobile.

Philadelphia, May 22.-Grover Cleve-
land Bergdoll, notorious draft dodger,
serving q tive-year sentence for desertion
from the United States Army, escaped here
Yesterday afternoon from the non-com-
missioned officers who had him IN Gus
todv. He is believed to be on his way
To Baltimore.
He fled in large touring car from
the home of his mother, Mrs. Emma
{. Bergdoll. wealthy brewers widow.
When he escaped he was dressed IN
an olive drab uniform with puttees, and
with the numeral 10 on it. This is his
number as prisoner at Fort Jay. Police
flyers have been sent out all over the
country to catch him at all costs.
park guard at Forty-fourth street
and Parkside avenue reported Yesterday
afternoon he s Wy Mrs. Bergdoll In her
car with two men, one of whom he be-
ieved was Grover, at $50 p. m.
Il thought nothing about it at the
time he said. Il paid no particular
attention to the man sitting IN the rear
seat, with Mrs. Bergdoll A fat man was
driving the car"
Information that Bergdoll had escaped
was given TO Superintendent of Police
Mills lat yesterday afternoon by ID.
Clarence Gibboney, one of Mrs. Bergdolfs
attorneys He said Bergdoll had been
brought from Governor Island to this
city on Thursday on a court order In
custody of two "non-coms" for his sigma
turc TO some papers, the nature OF which
was not given.
'Bergdoll fled at FIVE minutes of 8,
said the LAWYER HE was sitting IN the
drawing room with the two non-commis-
stoned officers who brought him here from
Governors Island. He arose and slowly
walked to the door. The soldiers made no
effort to stop or question him. Suddenly
they heard the purring OF a motor car.
They jumped up, looked out OF the window
and saw Growers big touring car speeding
down the driveway.
f'Driving the car was Isaac Striker,
Bergdolls chauffeur. 1t is not believed
the chauffeur was posted but just obeyed
Grover. The Pennsylvania license num-
Der of the car is S5447S.
"Mrs. Bergdoll was not at home at
the time of her sons escape. She was
IN this city on important business, the
nature of which it is not possible to dis
close st this time. | don't think she had
the slightest idea any such thing was going
to happen | believe it was purely 8 per-
sonal, strategic move on the part OF Berg
doll"
At first, said Gibboney. he hoped Grover
hsd merely taken ride with the inten-
ton OF returning shortly, but at p m. he
announced he definitely had given up hope
that this was the case. Il have done
everything in nv power TO help the police
in seeking him. he added.
The two guards, a sergeant and n
corporal We're being guarded by
"Uncle Jimmy Romig, former magistrate
and friend of Mrs. Bergdoll. in the kitchen
of the Bergdon home yesterday afternoon.
Disconsolate and agltated, they awaited
word from Governors Island as 10 what
they must do. They declined 10 give their
names. They may be court martialled.
Bergdoll was convicted of desertIon by
army court martial at Governors Island,
March 80 and sentenced to five years in
the Old Prison at Fort JAY. He disap-
peared IN August, 1917. and for nearly
two wears led the authorit les chase. lie
was finally captured in q sensational raid
81 has mothers home by city police and
Department of Justice agents. The trial
began March 4, 1920. and was featured
by efforts on the part OF Bergdoll, through
a corps of attorneys, to prove he was
mentally deficient and not responsible |
for his disappearance.
Bergdoll's brother, Erwin r. Berg /
doll, a well-known motor car racer, still /
Is a fugitive from justice. He also dis /
appeared instead Of answering the draft /
call and has not been heard Of since, with /
the exception of one brush with the police /
when he paid a flying motor car visit to i
his mothers home. Two elder brothers |
OF Grover had their names changed by |
courts to escape the notoriety attached
TO Grover Bergdoll's name.
Mrs. Bergdon Thursday was convicted
by jury of pointing pistol ct police
and United States Department Of Justice
agents to prevent her sons capture al
her home last January and was fined
1919.