Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-28
GOVERNMENT AGENT
PROPERTY Of
STACKER BERGDOLL

PHILADELPHIA, May 27.-All of
the property in this city of Grover
| Cleveland Bergdo1l, convicted draft
| evader and army deserter now in
| Germany, valued at about $S50,O00,
| was seized today by Colonel Thomas
| w. Miller, alien property custodian
| of the United States. 1t consists or
real estate and money on deposit in
| four local banking institutions.
The property was held by Mrs.
| Emma C. Bergdoll, Growers mother,
under q power of attorney.
The seizure, Colonel Miller an
| nounced, was by direction of the
| president and under the authority of
the trading with the enemy act. 1t Is
the first seizure since June, 1919.
Colonel Miller arrived in Philade1-
phia from Chicago and was met by
Major Vincent A. Carroll, his person
al attorney, at North Philadelphia
station. Miller and Carroll then get
in touch with the United States at
tor'ney and the U. S. marshal who
had previously received instructions
from the attorney general as to the
contemplated action by the govern
ment.
Mrs. Emma C. Bergdoll, who re-
Gently testified before the house
committee investigating the escape
of her son and VINO testified that
she held power of attorney for
him, was sent for by the United
States marshal and was there exam
ined by. Colonel Miller and Major
Carroll as to her holdings.
Bank Accounts Tied Up
Mrs. Bergdo1I was Immediately
served with formal demand to
make a detailed report of all Of the
holdings of Grover Cleveland Berg
doll and was notified that all of the
estate of Grover in Philadelphia,
which included the "Bergdoll castle"
at Fiftysecond and Wynnefield ave-
nue., would be taken over by the |
alien property custodian and would !
be administered by that office.
Miller and Carroll then went to the
several banks where Bergdoll's funds |
are deposited and served similar de-
mands on the presidents of those in
stitutions. When it was learned at |
the banks that funds belonging to |
Grover were deposited in the name of |
Emma C. Bergdoll, the presidents of |
the institutions were directed to Sc
quester all deposits in Mrs. Berg
dolls name until the interest of |
Grover Bergdoll in the deposits can
be ascertained.
The banks where the Bergdoll /
funds are deposited are the Peoples |
Trust company, Northwestern Ma |
tional bank. Real Estate Title and |
Trust company and Drexel and COM
pany.
An attachment on all of the
made BY Miller. All 'A mortgages Tss s'f to
Grover Bergdoll and the tenant in his
will be served likewise,
The Bergdoll properties will be
taken over by Major Carroll and adj
by him for the alien prop
erty custodian and any money will |
be turned into the treasury of the |
United States with other property of |
alien enemies that was seized in the
early part of the war. Colonel Miller
said. This has been the first Seiz-
ure since June, 1919.
Founder of Legion
Colonel Miller, who was one of
the founders of the American Legion,
in France, and was prominent in it's
organization in this country, inau-
gurated the movement to seize the
Bergdoll property. Colonel Miller
during the war served on the staff
of General Kuhn, of the Seventy
ninth division and was cited for gal
lantry. He is the son of ex-Gover-
nor Miller, of Delaware, and before
the war was congressman from that
state. He also served a term as
secretary of state of Delaware.
Major Carroll also is a veteran.
serving with Colonel Miller in
France.