Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-11
WILL PROBE ESCAPE OF
BERGD0LL FROM GUARDS
House Committee Decides 10 Go to
Bottom of Matter After Hear
ing McAvoy, of Philadelphia. (;
KAHN SAYS ACTION URGENT
Thorough Investigation of Escape
of millionaire Draft Dodgcr, Now
Fugitive in Germany, Is Recon-
nlcndcd to House.
[Bv Assoc.ated Press. !

WASHINGTON. Feb. I0.--Aftcr de-
Z relcping some of the high spots in
Tho case OF Grover Cleveland Berg
doll, the House Military Committee
decided today 10 ask Congress for
authority TO find out how the rich
philadelphia draft dodgcr escaped
from military guard and made his
Z way TO Germany, the country he had
refused TO fight.
= The committee voted to 20 to the
bottom of the case after hearing
District Attorney Charles ID. Nc
Aroy, of Philadelphia, who declared
there was no evidence 10 justify tho
charge that anybody connected with
tho War Department had been cor
rupted with Bcrgdoll money. The
namc OF d. Clarence Gibboncy. coun-
sci for Bcrsdoll, was brought into
( the proceedings, and Mr.. McAvoy was
quito positive in asserting the belief
that Gibboney WAS drowned In Mex
leo. despite an anonymous report re-
ceircd by the committee that he was
alive.
Kahn Says Actor Necessary.
chairman Kahn. who introduced a
resolution last May providing FOR APP
polnfment OF special committee to
conduct tho Bcrgdoll Investigation.
: hnounced tonight that he had
enough evidence 10 indicate the ne
cessity of action at this time. Recent
statements cabled from Germany by
me former military convict prompted
the committee TO renewed effort i'm
View OF the runawav's charge tina,
het had obtained from the Treasury
Department and concealed in tho
woods 100000 in gold to be used I'm
erecting his release through bribery,
of government officials
Leaving aside n multitude Of de-
tails connected with Bcrgdoll's os-
cape, the committee Will seek TO as
certain what influence enabled Berry
COLL TO obtain so much actual gold
from the Treasury at "A time last
year when the supply was being con-
served. The moro important, thread
to be followed, members said. was
the ability OF the prisoners LAWYERS
10 obtain his release under guard for
the purpose Of proceeding TO the end
of a rainbow in the hills of Naryla nd
anu dig UP his pot OF gold. l, was
while he was out on the golden chas.
that Bergdoll. stopping over in
Philadelphia to visit his mother. in
dioted with him. cludcd his guards
and slipped away in the same auto
mobile he had used many times for
highway speeding.
says Gold Came From Treasury.
Mr. McAvoy testified there was No
doubt OF the fact that Bergdoll got
the gold from the Treasury. In ex.
pressing unbounded belief tina. nc
high officials OF the War Department
had been corrupted. he said /, was
equally positive, that the draft dodger
had not escaped through political in
huchoe lie declined. however. to cy-
press an opinion, in view o. his close
study OF the case. OF the wisdom OF
the WAR Department in pci.nitting
release from prison under guard Of
prisoner on the nlmsy tale of treas
ure buried like the hidden fortunes
OF Captain Kidd.
Most OF the district attorneys tns-
tlmony related to many circumstances
long ago revealed in connection with
;hc story of Bergdon Describing the
legal tactics OF the former prisoners
mother. Mr. McAvoy Indicated tina, n
solve any court probA.rf cpi!d not
satisfy the woman. ..-Hl.t constantly
traded one attorney for another. After
Mrs. Bergdoll had paid out $4,000 In
fees. she quit cold, he .aid and left
Grover alone with his plan OF buying
his freedom.
Says sI:3o0 Distributed.
From MI Mc.tvoy the committee
obtained n definite etatcment az 10
disposition OF the sl9,5OO. OF this
amount $1,000. he said went e.
Samuel II. Anscll. former judgc-nd-
vocate-general OF the army; $4,000
to Gibboney; the SUN OF $3.50 to
former Judge J. W. Wcsrco;t. O! Penn
sylvania; little Ia an alIenis, ana
a little less 70 a lawyer in New York.
Mr., McAvoy said he was convinced
iha. the lawyers had been grossly
deceived. declaring they stood to win
more by obtaining his release than
by permitting him 70 avUie sentence.
The committee viii cndeavor 10
get early action in the House on the
Kahn resolution 10y obtaining rule