The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective LeagueHough, Emerson
History
The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective League
Hough, Emerson
American Protective League; Propaganda, German; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- United States
It was thought desirable to find any possible connection of German
interest with these radicals. At one meeting the discovery was made
that two men appeared and made a contribution to the foregoing defense
fund. They came from a Fairmount German singing society—where they
sang anything but American patriotic airs. The League kept close watch
on all these radical organizations, so close that they have not dared
to make any outright break. The slightest step out of the proper path
would mean an immediate reckoning with men who have been rather stern
in matters of justice.
After the _Tageblatt_ case, which was the first case in the entire
country resulting in a conviction under the indictments which were
brought against Werner and his associates, the Grover Bergdoll case
of mysterious disappearance is perhaps Philadelphia’s greatest
contribution to detective literature. Indeed, there is still chance
for a good detective in Philadelphia who can give bond for the
production of the body of Grover C. Bergdoll, college athlete, wealthy
young man-about-town, skillful mechanician, student of law, X-ray
experimenter, radical editor—and draft evader. The Bergdoll brothers,
Grover and Irwin, are known as the “slackers de luxe.” They were sons
of a wealthy brewer, and having money, it seemed to them that they
need not respect the law. They had shown their contempt for it before
the draft reached out for them. Grover C. did not register, and Irwin
failed to file his questionnaire. A. P. L. was set on their trail, but
the young men had both disappeared. From that time until now neither of
these men has been apprehended. Grover C. Bergdoll was seen in Mexico,
was alleged to have been in the West on a ranch, was reported to have
been in Spain, was said to have been seen in Western New York, and was
reported also to have been in Philadelphia twice. Sometimes he would
send a card to the newspapers just to tantalize the public, or to the
officials whom he knew to be after him. Well, money is a present friend
in times of trouble. For a time the Bergdoll mystery will remain a
mystery. One of these days the life of the Bergdoll boys will fail to
interest them. One of these days the law will lay its hands on them,
and they will have to settle with the country which they have slighted
and scorned and whose citizenship they do not deserve.
It may have occurred to readers of these pages that there was not
enough blood and thunder stuff pulled off by the operatives of the A.
P. L. It is quite possible that the Department of Justice men have had
the harder load to carry in these more violent affairs, because quite
often they are obliged to make the actual arrest, on warrants under
evidence obtained by the A. P. L. One Philadelphia incident resulted
in the killing of the man sought—a negro desperado who carried several
aliases but was best known in the saloon district as “Porto Rico.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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