New-York tribune., 1921-05-24
Mrs. Berggdoll
Rants and Calls
Probers Nosev
Slams Parasol ON Table
and Shouts Defiance as
She Refuses 10 Tell the
Exact Spot She Hid Gold
Escapes Contempt Charge
Says Son Has as Good Chance
To BE President as Amy
of congressman Present

WASHINGTON, May 2S.-~-Mrs. Emma
G. Bergdoll mother of Grover Cleve-
land Bergdoll, the Stacker, again went
TO the bat to-day with the House ccm-
mittee Investigating his escape.
At the end of a two-hour cross-ex-
animation Mrs, Bergdoll came up smil-
ing, for the committee refused to send
her before the bar of the House of
Representatives for not answering
questions bearing on her buried gold.
There were times when the witness,
rising from her chair and slamming the
floor with q parasol, sharply denounced
the inquiry as another of long series
of prosecutions.
It was while Representative Johnson,
Republican, of Kentucky, had the wit
ness in hand that the clash occurred
which caused him to offer motion
charging her with contempt. The
committee, however, thought best to
decide this question in executive ses-
sion, and ten minutes later the doors
were opened and Mrs. Bergdoll was
told that she might return to Phila-
delphia.
Calls Congressman Nasty
While making no attempt, as he ex-
planned, to find where the woman had
buried s105,00o obtained from the
Treasury in 1919, Mr.. Johnson drew
from her the statement that it was
on the Bergdoll farm, out on the West
chester Pike, leading into Philadelphia.
1t was while he was trying to learn
who actually assisted in hiding it that
Mrs. Bergdoll few into a rage and de-
clared it was q sin and a shame for
members of Congress to be so nasty"
Mr.. Johnson replied that he was try
Ing to lay foundation to see if she
was telling the truth, at which Mrs.
Bergdoll launched into TRADE This
was quickly checked by Chairman
Peters.
II refuse to give you any other in
formation about the gold" Mrs. Berg
doll shouted, banging ehe table with the
parasol. II am sick and tired of it.
You ought not to be so nosey. It's a
waste of time and I don't propose to
console you by answering"
Before getting away from the sub
ject of the gold, Mrs. Bergdoll declared
that all of it was placed in one hole.
that nobody knew where, and that If
she died it never would be found.
Won't Tempt Congressman
Representative Luhring, Republican,
Indiana, wanted to know if she would
dig it up and left the committee have
a look
mo, l won't" she exclaimed, "nor
my children, either. I would not put
that temptation in your way"
81 don't believe you have it buried"
Mr.. Luhring shouted.
"Ha, ha," Mrs. Bergdoll replied, and
the crowd roared.
Asked how Grover had been named
for President Cleveland, Mrs. Bergdoll
shouted:
alIe has got as good a chance as any
hNGr Ii 1f
aent.'
Bought TO Liberty Bonds
"How many Liberty bonds did you
buy?" Luhring asked.
"None, that's how many she replied.
"A1l the posters had in big words kill
the Huns and Pm not willing to kill
anybody. And how many did you buy,
and how many did the President of the
buy?" But Chairman Peters stopped
the outburst.
The committee found from Mrs.
Bergdoll's books that year ago Grover
Bergdoll paid income tax amounting to
$3.50, and $137 for the current year.
The Stacker, she said, was worth half
million dollars.
Mrs. Bergdoll said she had turned
over S700 to an officer at Governors
ISldnQ, Whefc BergdolI was locked up,
for general use of soldiers. After
names of several officers on duty there
were mentioned, she testified that it
was to Captain Samuelson she gave
the money to be spent largely for her
son and his prison friends.
Mrs. Bergdoll endeavored to give the
committee full account of all money
spent in lawyers fees. which, she de-
clared, ran $4,000 above the $4,000
total quoted in her previous testimony
only last week. She said she paid
Henry T. Scott, Philadelphia lawyer,
s10,258 land then fired him."
Wescott Defended Gibboney
A letter from former Judge John W.
Wescott, of New Jersey, written to
Attorney General Palmer soon after
the escape of Grover Bergdoll, de-
elared the late D. Clarence Gibboney,
Bergdoll's counsel. was innocent as
an unborn babe" of completely in the
escape. The communication was placed
before the committee.
Former Representative J. Washing