New-York tribune., 1920-05-23
gfession from the main purpose Of the

IUfIOuSn-
Colonel Bailey was to have been
treasure, according to the first plans
he was to meet the men at Hagers
town, but on account of being pressed
sfor time, he wrote to Gibboney h,
gould not be there and suggested i
was not necessary for him to be
member OF the party at all.
r The fact that Colonel Bailey was tt
meet the motor party at Hagerstowr
lent color to the report the treasure
was buried midway between Cumber
land and Hagerstown, in the narrow
strip of Maryland territory, formed
by the southern boundary of Pennsyl
fsania and the northward bulge of the
Potomac River, which separates Mary.
Land and Virginia
Bergdoll, however. was rather indef
.irOte as to the exact location of the
Sreasure, and insisted he could no,
draw diagram of the place 1T was
sitwentyfve miles from the nearest
'R,acadam road he said, and he as.
eserted he could direct the party to it
after he got his bearings.
Bergdoll's presence at his home was
"a violation of the agreement under
which he was given the furlough, ac-
cording to Investigators. He was to
Rave started at once on the trim to
seek the buried treasure without re-
naming in this city or visiting his
Rome.
The money which Bergdoll was re-
puted to wish to seek was gold OBJ
tanned from the Treasury Department
prior to his disappearance when he
was drafted, in August, 1917. 1t is
said that James f. Romig, former
1rnagistrate and close personal friend
,9f the Bergdoll family, went to Wash
rfrgton and exchanged treasury GER.
sutcates for the cash
Attorney Denies Frameup
Once before, it was said when Mrs.
Bergdoll's pursestrings became tight,
Grover, her favorite son, took some
money away and buried it against a
rainty day"
-.E."Grover's -. flight was not the result
,nf a frame-up," declared Gibboney to-
day. Il don't care what people say. I
telterate there was no frame-up in his
escape. never thought he would flee.
He did just the thing we did not want
him to do.
at is the truth when I say that he
was brought here to sign papers His
signature on them was extremely i'm
portant."
-~Gibboney said this before it was
established Bergdoll was released on
his solicitation to go on the treasure
hunt.
Il knew of no positive orders to stay
away from the Bergdoll home" he said.
1--WE took the car there because it was
m need of repairs, and the home was
Che logical place to take it. was
dumfounded when was notified of his
escape. l thought he fully realized his
position as much as l did He knew
$o1
suited and his conviction verdict could
not stand and would be set aside,
-" e did not want Bergdoll to run of, ,
because we were confident the Judge
advocate general in reviewing his
court martial sentence would disap-
prove it and Grover would thereby gain
his freedom. I don't know where he is.
We have not heard from him. His
mother is worried, and last night she
just went off on lark and will return
and surrender"
Mother Has Weak Heart
She has a weak heart" said former
Magistrate Romig when attempts were
made to question Mrs. Bergdoll. "If
you disturb her l am afraid it might
kill her. You see, she feels very badlv
ABOUT this. She is q star gazer, and last
night, after making a study of the
stars, said that it would be "a lucky day
for the Bergdolls.'
She's an expert on this star stuff.
When Grover disappeared she was
down at the Twenty-ninth Street prop
erty planting flowers. Only last night
she said if she planted on lucky Fri
day she would have fine flowers, but if
she left the planting go until Saturday
she would have q crop Of weeds"
City detectives working on Bergdoll's
disappearance to-day criticized the at
titude of Federal officials. Their de-
malls he was away from Fort Jay and
their red tape" in awaiting Official
notice Of his escape exasperated the
police, who said the government agents
were from two and half to three
shours getting on the trail
Poilce also contrasted the treatment
accorded to Bergdoll with that of other
convicted deserters who pass through
the city from time to time They are
under armed guards and are handcuffed,
even to attend funerals, whereas Berg
dolls guards had only side arms, he was
not handcutfed and was permitted to 20
motor riding, to the theater, and sleep
IN his own home.
1t is evident that Bergdoll's escape
was not hit-or-miss venture. accord
sing to the police. Ringing of the phone
bell, which Bergdoll ostenslbly had
gone to answer when he escaped, detec
,tives believe, was the signal for the
stacker to make the dash.