Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-23
NEIGHBORS PROTEST
OBJECTIONS TO ISSUANCE OF PER
NIT TO A PALMIST.
Evidence for and Against the Apph-
cant Heard by the Commits
sioners Today.

a hearing was given by the District Com
mlssioners today to several of the neigh
bors of II. Clay Davis. known professional
ly as Prof. Clay who fled their pro-
tests against the granting of license to
the professor" as a palmist and phrenoio-
gfst. The hearing was the outgrowth of n
protest filed some time ago with the police
department. The law regarding the H.
censing of clairvoyants, palmists. sooth-
sayers. etc, provides that in all such cases
the application for license shall have the
approval of the major and superintendent
of police. In the present instance Major
Sylvester, on account of the conflicting re-
ports received by him, agreed with Mr..
Wilton J. Lambert. attorney for prof
Clay. to lay the whole matter before the
Commissioners at a public hearing. No
testimony was adduced by the police de-
partment
Prof. Clay has. 1t IS alleged, conducted
his chronological and 'palmic" .seances at
49, H street southwest for some time past
According to the testimony of the Witnesses
who appeared to protest against the grant
ing of license, the professor formerly
had many gay gatherings al his house. 1t
was claimed that on at least two evenings
Of each week the merrymaking of his
friends continued until far into the night
Nothing of this character, however, had
occurred during the past year. Among
those who protested were DR.. A. H. Tay
lor. who claimed the palmist had sold
medicine: Rev F. B. Sapps. William \.
Smithson. Mrs. s. ]. High, ]. T. Bussford
and E. ]. Humphrey These people told of
the merry gatherings at the Clay Davis
household. They told of loud talking and
of folks on street corners after coming
from the palmist's home, and of many
things Of like character.
The Professors Friends Heard.
The professor was not without his
friends, who strongly denied the assertions
of the complainants. Among those who
testified in defense of the applicant were =.
W. Phillips, his brother-in-law; Mrs. Phil
lips. his sister; Margaret Walters. Marga
ret Rock. Mrs. Machen, Bridget Pagan. >.
c. Turner. Harry b. Lansdale and Mary
E. Horn. all neighbors. These witnesses
all admitted that there were social gath
eringS in the palmiStS household, but they
denied there had been anything in the least
disorderly.
Prof Clay took the stand himself. He
is a ponderously portly gentleman, and, al
though short of stature, evidently weighs
in the neighborhood of 400 pounds. He
told of having had in the past number
of theatrical friends at his house and of
once having entertained mandolin club.
He asserted most positively that he had
never done anything disorderly nor had any
of his guests. He denied emphatically ever
having sold medicine, saying that was not
in his line.
Statement by Counsel.
In summing up the case Mr.. Lambert,
who appeared for the applicant, said the
testimony was so conflicting as to show
the question had become
purely personal one with the two factions
in the neighborhood. He said the testimony
given by the complaining witnesses was
purely hearsay. and would not be consid-
cred In court of justice. He declared
that If there had been disorderly gather
ings at $50 H street southwest in years
gone by. it was the duty of the neighbors
to have complained to the police and had
the matter sifted in the Police Court. Mr..
Lambert further argued that matter
what the semi-weekly gatherings had been
at this place, they were purely social func-
tons and could not enter into the question
of granting or refusing license on purely
legal grounds. There was no evidence, he
said, of any disorder whatsoever during
the past year and no indication that there
was to be disorder of any kind. Mr.. Lam
bert declared the law recognizes the prac
tice of palmiStry. no matter what some of
the professors neighbors might think on
the subject.
The Commissioners took the matter under