The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-22
ONE BERGDOLL GIVES
UP TO HELP MOTHER
Erwin, Fugitive Two Years,
'Surrenders Here, Silent
on WanderiBgs.
COURT MARTIAL OPENS
New Version Of Growers Es-
cape Told as Col. Hunt
Faces Judges.
COURT MARTIAL OPENS

Erwia r. BergdoIl. Philadelphia draft
dodger. chose a dramatic moment yes
terday 10 surrender 10 the army authori-
ties at Governors Island Lieut-col
John z. Hunt, L. s. A. retired, had
just heard read TO him the charges in
court-mAr,ial convened TO Try him for
alleged neglect Of duty in connection
with the sensational escape Of Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll. brother Of Erwin.
from non-commlssioned officers who had
taken him 10 PHILADELPHIA from the
Governors Island disciplinary barrack.
Of which Lieut-CoL Hunt was oomman-
5snt
The surrender Of Erwin was said 70
be move 70 help his mother. who is
under indictment in Philadelphia On a
charge Of aiding her sons 10 syads mill
tsry service. Al her home In Philadel-
phiA Mrs. Bsrgdoll said yesterday shs
was glad TO hear Erwin had given him
sslp Up. and expressed q hope that
Grover would do the sans. Federal
officials in Philadelphia said they had
been expecting ErE!n's surrender for
several months Erwin arrived a,
Governors Island accompanied by an
other brother and Judge Romig Of PhiIs-
5elphia.
Il was made clear at the trial Of
Lieut. Col Hunt by Lieut-CoL Charles
c. Cresson. Judge Advocate. who is
prosecuting the case. and by the testi-
raony Of Sergeant John O'Hare. whO
was one Of the guards who took Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll TO Philadelphia. that
no suspicion exists which would impli-
cate Col Hunt IN the slacker's escape.
The charge OF neglect OF duty is under
the sSth article Of war, In that he do
not take proper precautions when Berg
doll left the barracks 70 go 10 Philadel-
phla-
Escape story Changed.
Sergeant O'Hare's testimony gave
new setting 10 the story Of Bsrgdolrs
escape. differing considerably from the
one told previously by D. C. GIbboney,
2ne OF Bergdolrs attorneys II also
revealed that Gibboney was to assume
the management Of the expedition for
which the Stacker was released, but that
after he met Bsrgdoll and his guard
when they arrived he was not seen again
by them or heard from until after the
escape.
Sergeant O'Hare said that when he
started with 'Bergdoll he had no idea
they were going 10 stop IN Philadelphia
He thought they were going straight TO
MARYLAND after the money Bergdoll was
! supposed 10 have there. In answer 10
questions. ne sad Yes. I think Major
HINT said something about starting back
TO New York II anything suspicious oc-
| CURED"
Felt Little Uneasy.
O'Hare admitted he felt "a little un-
easy when thirty hours had elapsed
ard Glbboney had neither put in an
appearance nor phOned as ''Mr. X"
which he had promised 20 do.
The sergeant's testimony threw more
Plight on what the party did in Phlla-
delphia- After dinner at Bersdolrs
| house. where they went at Gibboney's
suggestion. they took an automobile
ride part Of the afternoon, played pool
the rest and went 20 the theatde in the
evening. The next norning a bottle Of
gin was produced. O'Hare said he didn't
drink any and that he cautioned his
| companion. sergt. York. after he had
taken couple Of drinks, 10 lay off that
stuff"
Maior-Gen. p. c. Harris. Adjutant-
| General Of the army. was a witness in
the morning He testified that he gave
permission for the Bergdoll expedition
upon a request from Simon T. Ansell. a
former Colonel in the army, and one OF
Rergdolrs counsel. who satisfied him
that everything about the expedition was
al right