The circle banner., 1920-05-28
WEALTH STACKER
FLEES FROM GUARD.
GROVER BERGDoLL, CONVICTED
EvADER, ESCAPES FROM TWO
ARMY sEReEANTs
SERVING LONG PRISON TERM
Pretends to Answer Phone Call and
Disappears in High Powered Auto
mobile.-Police Close Avenueo
of Escape for Fugitive

Il Philadelphia, May ZZ-OrONef. Cic'c'
land Bergdoll, convicted draft dodger
recently sentenced to serve five years
on Governors Island, N. Y, escaped
from army guards at his mother
home here yesterday and last night
| was still at large. The wealthy Phila-
delphian, who evaded the government
authorities for more than two years
before he was captured at his home In
a sensational raid, disappeared in MS
own motor car while two sergeants
from Fort Jay, N. Y. his guards, were
sitting in the drawing room of Mrs.
BergdolI's palatial home. The machine
was driven by Bergdoll's chauffeur,
according to the police.
! According to information received
| from Fort Jay last night, Bergdoll
came to Philadelphia Thursday on
tbree-day furlough to attend to i'm
nortant business matters" 1t was said
by the military authorities that he mad
left Governors Island on competent
| military instructions and was suppos-
ed TO visit a city other than Philadel-
phia.
The nature of Bergdoll's business,
| the military authorities said, was con-
| fidential.
It was said the two sergeants had
spent the night at the Bergdoll nome,
which is on the outskirts of the city.
Yesterday afternoon Bergdoll was en-
Pertaining the sergeants with reclta-
tions from Shakespeare, according TO
James E. Romig, a friend of the Berg
doll family, who was present. A tele-
nbone bell rang and Bergdoll said ne
would answer it, He left the room ana
as the bell kept ringing, the two SER
qeants became suspicious and investi-
gated. His car, which had been stand
ing in front of the house, had dIsap-
neared. and Bergdoll with it. The
draft dodger was dressed in olive drap
denim. the army prison uniform.
The two sergeants teelphoned police
Headquarters and every avenue OF es-
cane around the city was covered.
Mrs. Emma C. BergdolL the fugi-
tive's mother, was not at home when
her son escaped, but returned shortly
afterward.
Military and city authorities last
night were making an investigator 10
ascertain whether there was any col
lusion and whether Bergdoll was aideo
in his escape.
PerodolI was convicted of deser-
ton by army court-martlai at Cover
nor's Island March 80 and sentenced 10
five years in the old prison at Fort
Jav The trial began March and was
featured by efforts on the part OF Berg
doll through corps of attorneys, TO
nrove he was mentally deficient ana
not responsible for his disappearance.
Rergdolps record with the police OF
this city and suburbs is long one. he
began sensational career as feck-
less motor car driver in 1911, when ne
was 1S years old. He is now 2o. he
maid several thousand dollars IN lines
for speeding and fighting with ponce
men who attempted to catch him. he
later branched out into aeronautics
and amateur science.
Bergdoll's brother, Erwin K. Berg
doll we'll known motor car racer
still is a fugitive from justice. he
also disappeared instead OF answering
the draft call.
philadelphia, May 22.-Mrs- Emma
c. Bergdoll, widow of a wealthy brew
er. was found guilty of four charges OF
wantonly pointing firearms, but was
acquitted on bills charging conspiracy
and assault and battery with intent TO
kill. by jury Thursday. She was
fined $50 and costs on each bill, max
ing total of S279, which she paid be-
fore leaving court.
The charges against Mrs. Bergdoll
resulted from raid by police and de-
Of justice agents on her
home when her son, Grover Cleveland
sentenced to five years I'M
prisonment at Fort Jay, Governors Is
and, for desertion from the army, was
several months ago.