New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-22
Draft Dodger StrolIs
Past Two Guards i'm
Drawing Room, Steps
Into Auto and Flees
Got Prison Leave
To Sign Papers
No Handouts ON Pris-
oner; Mother Seen i'm
a Car With Two Men
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

Special Dispatch to The Tribune
PHILADELPHIA, May p. Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, millionaire draft
dodger, escaped from his guards here
to-day. He is believed to be on his
way to Baltimore in an automobile.
Bergdoll was brought here yesterday
from Fort Jay, Governors Island, New
York, where he was serving a five year
sentence for desertion, to sign some
papers, according to D. Clarence Glib
honey, attorney for his mother Mrs.
Emma c. Bergdoll
The prisoner was in the custody of a
sergeant and corporal, whose names
have not been disclosed. They NAV
face court martial because of the es-
cape.
Bergdoll Just Walks Away
Bergdoll, with his guards, was sit
ting in the drawing room of his moth
er's home in Wynnefeld, where he
was captured last January after a
three-year hunt. The non-commis
stoned officers felt no particular con-
Germ over their prisoner They saw
nm rise and walk slowly toward the
door, but made no effort to stop or
question him.
Not until the soldiers heard the purr
OF motor car in front of the garage
behlnd the house did they suspect that
their prisoner was attempting to es-
cape. They jumped 10 a window lust
IN time to see Bergdoll's own touring
automobile speed down the driveway.
with Bergdoll in the front seat. Isaac
striker, his chauffeur, was driving.
park guard, about mile from the
Bergdoll home, reported seeing Mrs.
Bergdoll and two mer in her car
about $3.50 o'clock. a few minutes after
the escape. He said he believed the
man in the rear seat was Grover.
Mrs. Bergdoll was not at home at the
time of the escape. According to her
attorney she was in the city transact
ing business. He said he did rot be
lieve the mother knew anything of her
sons plans to escape
Bergdoil fled in a Car bearing a Penn
svlvanla license number S5,478 He was
dressed N an olive draD uniform with
ont pockets, on which was stamped TO-
The fugitive's number in the prison at
Fort Jay.
Search for Fugitive
Every effort is being made by the
police and Federal officers to stop the
fugitive. Police "flyers" were sent
out over all the thoroughfares leading
out of the city and warnings were sent
to neighboring cities asking officials
to be on the lookout.
Mr. Gibboney was first to notify the
police of the escape. Until after 5
O'Clock the attorney maintained his
belief that Bergdoll had only gone for
a ride and had no intention of escape
When he finally had given up hope
that this was the case Mr. Gibboney
said:
II feel he has done the very thing
he should not have done He came
here on very important mission. He
was to have started back to Governors
Island at o'clock to-day"
An investigation has been started by
Federal authorities to determine
and the two guards or any of them had
plotted the action. Belief was ex-
pressed by the police that the chauf-
feur was merely acting under orders.
Guards Put Under Guard
The two guards, light haired ser
geant and a slim corporal with dark
hair, were guarded after the escape by
"uncle Jimmy" Romig, former magis.
tAotc anu iiIc-iolS lLlclu ol 1nIS. DerB-
doll, in the kitchen of the Bergdol
mansion. Disconsolate and agitated
they awaited word from Governors
Island as to what they must do. They
refused to give their names.
"Why didn't you have him hand.
cuffed ?" they were asked Didn't you
know this chap was bad actor?"
"No," walled the sergeant "Why
did they let him come over here if he
was as bad as all that? | am not going
to say word about it until hear from
Major Hunt, commanding officer at Fort
Jay"
Bergdoll refused to answer the draft
call in 1917. Although hunted stead
lily, no report of him was obtained
until August ID, 1919, when be was
saic to have made flying visit at his
mothers home. A week later he was
ambushed there by Federal agents and
police, with whom he clashed, but he
escaped. In September he was heard
Of in Dayton, Ohio. but it was not
until January of this year that he
(Continued nm pane ninhf