Salt Lake Telegram | 1924-03-30 | Page 10 | Draft Evader Thinks Charge Has Loophole

I DRAfT EVADER THINKS CHARGE HAS LOOPHOLE Bergdoll Holds Desertion Accusation Illegal Because Because Because Be Be- cause He Never Donned Uniform Not Sworn In German Germany March 29 Contending that the charge of or desertion desertion de de- de against him Is la illegal Inasmuch Inasmuch In- In as he was never sworn In or orore wore ore the uniform of the United States army Grover GrOer Cleveland Bergdoll Berg Berg- doll made emphatic denial dental today of or the tho report that he was preparing to return to the United States and and the rumors that he contemplated ed embarking at Hamburg this week The Tho draft evader returning to his hotel here after a a. motor trip to the Black forest admitted ed that several unauthorized propositions had been put up to him b by third parties whose credentials failed tailed to i impress him although they are arc al alleged alleged al- al to have carried led American passports passports pass pass- ports In blank bInnIe duly signed by Secretary Secretary Sec Sec- of or S State ate Hughes and bearing the official red seal These documents It was said by Bergdoll were supplemented b by others oth oth- ers era from the departments of state and justice requesting American consular officials in Germany Gennan and elsewhere to exp expedite his passage The parties who approached me said Bergdoll hinted that In all probability the desertion charge would be quashed and I would be given a. a light sentence for evading the draft in incase case I surrendered voluntarily voluntarily vol vol- vol- vol but I was skeptical of or the whole proposition He confessed that he would not mind returning to take tale his medicine medicine medi medi- cine but could not see the way clear while a a. year five ear sentence confronted confront confront- ed him He reiterated that his conviction con con- was illegal despite the tho fact that his brother was serving a a. sentence sen sea tence under the same charge aw as' he aa-he he had never tak taken n the oath as a soldier soldier sol sol- dier or donned a uniform It Is said that the alleged documents documents documents docu docu- ments with the third parties were equipped when they approached Bergdoll were Issued In the name of or Bryant