Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-27
erwin pERGDOLL
PROTECTS FRIENDS
Growers Brother, Also Accused
as Draft Dodger, Answers
No Questions
GIRL MAY BE WITNESS
BD a sto0 Corrcspond dent


Governors Island, n. ". July 27.---
Erwin Bergdoll is maintaining strict
secrecy regarding his whereabouts dur
ing the more than two years he was a
draft dodger and the identity of the
friends who aided him during that
period. ,N.,
Military intelligence Operatives and
officers from the judge advocates Office
have made repeated efforts to make him
tell since his voluntary surrender last
Wednesday here, but without result.
He refuses to answer such questions.
In an effort to link Erwin up with
his brother Growers visits to Hagers-
town. Nd, while Grover was a fugitive
as Stacker, Lieutenant Colonel Charles
c, Cresson, who prosecuted Grover and
who will prosecute Erwin. may call
witnesses from there.
Colonel Cresson said today he might
ask Ina Dayhoff, clerk of the New
Vivian Hotel at Hagerstown, to come
here to see IL she could identity Erwin.
II not. a picture of the prisoner will be
sent her for identification.
Identified Grover
At Growers trial Miss Dayhoff
identified him as a man who stayed az
the hotel as James Carson. She
identified James T.. Romig, former
Philadelphia magistrate and friend OF
the Bcrgdolls, as man who stayed
there as "Mr. Watt"
The couple were accompanied by an
other man, sometimes by two, on their
visits, Miss Dayhoff said. Because
Romig was one Of the men who CANT
here with Erwin when he surrendered.
have been in the Hagerstown parties. y
Romig, known here as "Pumphandlc
Jimmy" because of his hand shaking
proclivities, was indicted because Of the
Hagerstown happenings, and other
civilians may be brought into the case
il Erwin's presence there is proved.
Erwin probably will face the court
martial board some time next week.
Colonel CrcSson says. The colonel has
asked John ]. O'Connor. a Department
of Justice agent in Philadelphia, to
request the members Of the BroOmall,
Delaware county, draft board, where
Erwin registered, to have themselves
in readiness for service as witnesses
here at that time.
The draft board officials records,
Erwins signed QUESTIONABLE and other
draft papers will furnish the strength
of prosecution. Colonel Cresson said.
These. he said, will be amply sufficient
to convict the draft dodger.
Colonel Cresson said Mrs. Emma g..
Bergdoll's contention that Erwin should
have been in the fourth class was ruled
upon by the draft board and If intro
! duced by the defense will bear no weight
with the court martial.
Claim Disallowed
Bergdoll's $ claim for exemption on the
ground that he was the sole support Of
his wife. who has since died. and was
gentleman farmer was disallowcd.
lie disappeared after filing his qucs-
| tionnaire.
Captain John VI. Weir. assigned to
! Erwin as military counsel. may be re-
lieved ut Bergdoll's request. Mrs.
! Bergdoll. the prisoners pother. visited
| him yesterday. and later said she was
| dissatisfied with Captain Weir. Cap
tain Weir has received no word of it.
Officers Of the military intelligence
| believe Erwin spent much of his time
while fugitive with Grover. until
the latter was captured in his mother s
home last January. At that time the
| place was raided by government agents
who believed both brothers were hiding
! there.
no verdict has been announced yet
in the court martial of Colonel John
f.. Hunt, whose trial ended Yesterday
An acQuittal is expected. He was ac-
cuScd of neglect of duty in not sending
a stronger guard with Grover when he
was allowed to go from here to recover
a ''pot of gold' hidden near Hagers :
town. Md. Grover escaped from the
guards in his mothers home. Fifty
second street and Wynncticld avenue.
on June 81. Colonel Hunt has been
released from technical arrest
Lieutenant Charles e. Cressou :
statement that h" had not called ID.
Clarence Gibboncy aS witness against
Colonel Hunt because he could not
vouch for his ''intcgrity. or crcdibility
and reliability brought forth the fol
lowing comment from Ghbonoy today
'Thcr" are some things that men dc
to others that are so unjust and coward
ly ~ t" make comment absolutely un
necessary.