Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-22

proper means, TO apprehend Bergdoll at
the earliest practicable date.
General Ansell. in requesting that
Bergdoll be permitted TO 20 under guard
to recover his money, stated that he
had gone into the matter carefully, aud
that circumstances indicated the truth
of Bergdon's statement about the
money.
He also said that he would pay all
the expenses Of the trip and that he,
No Bergdoll's counsel, would stand re-
sponsible for his prompt return to
prison.
Automobile Needed Repairs
Edward S. Bailey, q law partner
Of General Ansell and formerly Colonel
Bailey, U. 3. A. went to Fort Jay 10
confer with Major Hunt, commandant
OF the disciplinary barracks, and ar
ranged the details for the trip. II was
agreed that Bergdoll should be seut by
train, in charge of two sergeantS Of the
disciplinary barracks guard, to North
Philadelphia, where they were to be met
by Gibboney and taken in an automobile
TO the place where the money was
Upon arrival Of the guard and Berg.
doll at North Philadelphia they were
Informed by Mr.. Gibboney that the au.
tomobile obtained for the trip required
certain repairs. and at Mr., Gibboney's
request, Bergdoll was taken to the home
0s his mother to await the completion
of these repairs.
Under the. plan argecd upon by
Major Hunt and MIR. Bailey. ii was dis
tinctly understood that Bergdoll would
not stop in Philadelphia longer than
necessary TO change from the train to
an automobile.
''The regular award of $50 authorized
By law for the apprehension Of an
escaped prisoner is totally inadequate
in case OF this nature
Secretary Bakers Statement
Secretary Bakers complete statement
follows:
THE escape of Bergdoll was brought
General Harris. the adjutant general
shortly after IL occurred.
II had had no previous knowledge
Of any mission. confidential or other.
/. wise, on Bergdoll's part. and did not
know that he had been taken from the
prison at Governors island. or that
there was any intention of bringing
him."
after his escape | was informed
that General Ansell and Colonel Bailey
counsel for Bergdoll. some days ago
Bergdoll prior to his arrest had sccreted
large sum of money in place
known only to himself. and they had
made application TO have Bergdoll
brought under guard accompanied by
his lawyers to get the money.
This arrangement was authorized
by the adjutant general and the authori e
ties at Governors Island notified. Major
Hunt at Governors island detailed
Al. AL Ia
Philadelphia, at which place he was to
be met by his attorneys, and his party
was then TO proceed TO the place where
the money was supposed TO be hidden.
THE details OF his escape are vari
ously reported. As soon as the mat =
ter was brought to my attention. | di-
rected an immediate and thorough in =
vestigatiou of the entire matter, and
that every effort be made to capture the
fugitive"
BergdoII's Lawyers Explain
General Ansell and Colonel Bailey
who also is out of the army now, issued
the following statement jointly:
I'VE were retained some six weeks
ago by Mr.. Gibboney to represent Berg
doll In the review of the proceedings OF
his court martial by the War Depart
ment.
While preparing the brief in the case
We had several conferences with Mr.
Gibboney upon the preparation of thu
brief, which. before filing with the de
pertinent. was submitted to Judge West
cott, Of counsel in the case.
''As related in the following. at one
of these conferences. Mr. Gibboney said
Bergdoll had hidden a large sum oi
money which he was anxious TO recover.
Mr.. Gibboney believed, and from the
attendant circumstances as related by
him, we believed and do still believe
that Bergdoll's story concerning this
money is true.
Mr.. Gibboney asked us il authority
could be obtained from tho War De
partment to have Bergdoll 60 under
proper military supervision to recover
the money.
Made Formal Request
"Haying known several instances ia
which in like exceptional circumstances
the War Department had granted such
authority, We related the whole story
orally to the adjutanr general anC
Immediately thereafter at his suggestion
made the application in the following
letter
May H. 1920.
MY Dear General Harris:
Please permit me. III compliance
with your helpful suggestion Of q
moment ago to pace before YOU in thi'
manner my request, concerning which
/ have just spoken 10 YOU in behalf O
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll. togethe,
with brief statement of the reasons
therefor.
This man. in virtue of his convic
tion and sentence as so called 'draf
deserter,' is now imprisoned at For
jay, pending the review Of his trial b.
the war department.
Believes Hidden Money Story
g 4 nm his attorney. His home coun
sci in Philadelphia is u. &. Gibbouoy
of uneXCelled reputo as man auc
lawyer. OF counsel, also in a consult
ing capacity, is Judge Wpscott o
New Jersey. whom doubtless tho scrro.
tary we'll knows. These gentlemen visit
ed me last Friday aud related ~ me 4
situation which We believe 10 hc rruc
and which impeiS US N submit this re
port.
This Young man wa, reared father
less under family conditions which, eyer
when partially revealed, throw rousd
cradle light upon conduct NJ his that
to say the least. is strange II not unin
telligPnt. From hie father hc iuhorit"r
wealth.
"ApprehendinG the family desire t.
conti oil his share, no ~ times mas OPENLY
submitted, at others has become sccrptivr
Of his wealth. THIS latter perhaps i,
the most influential of the many com
pleX motives for his action in the in