Evening star., 1926-04-30
FENNTNC TO TAKE STAND MONDAY
in RENEWAL OF INVESTIGATION
Additional news In Fenning
case will be found on Page IA.

1 V0SC VIII UC lUuhu UHh ASO Il
judged insane. He had an estate OF
$24O 900. Mr.. Blanton said that Fen
ming went In a patrol wagon with DR..
ID. Percy Hickling TO get this man and
take him TO st. EliZabeths." He said
that this ma n used good judgment
In running away from his home until
he could get good lawyer" Wilton
J. Lambert defended Mr.. Bennett and
won the case. Mr.. Blant asked that
Mrs. Rogers, who was housekeeper
for Mr.. Bennett. he called az wit
| ness before the subcommittee.
Mr.. Blanton next reminded his col
leagues that testimony of DR.. White
and admissions by Mr.. Fenning
showed thar they owned stock In the
Laurel Sanitarium. Then he produced
rouct records In the case OF Caroline
y. Rixford, in which a petition was
MED by r. A. Fenning. attorney, for
bradford l.. Pease. who set forth that
he had received informa tion that his
sra ndaunt was mentally incompetent.
and asking that committee he ap-
pointed
Woman Sent to Sanitarium.
/ The papers showed that this WON.
an was sent to Laurel Ss nitarium at
cost or 500 month for fourteen
months. at the end Of which she died.
She had made two Wills one in 1909,
which Mr. Fenning represented, and
which permitted the Washington
Loan and Trust Co. to take the prop.
erty. and the other will made In 1912,
which Mr.. Lambert represented.
Mr.. Blanton showed that Mr.. Fen
ming claimed an attorney fee Of
$1,000. and read the testimony Of Mr.
Lambert ak to whether he considered
this reasonable fee. 1t appears in
he court record that Mr.. Lambert
thought Mr.. F'ennins should not have
more than $1,000. The estate
amounted to s42 900 The Washing.
ton I.oan and Trust co. was commit.
tee Of the property. and Brainard w.
Parker Mr.. Jennings law partner.
was committee of the person and col
ector Mr.. Fenning was attorney for
the petition and director OF this
bank
MIR. Bowman asked what Mr.. Fen
ming received. and Mr.. Blanton. quot
ing from the Auditors report,
showed that Mr.. Fenning got t1.625
as attorney In the lunacy case and
s'4.80 for a trip to Ala bama to take
a deposition and that Brainerd w.
Parker rs collector received fee Of
Is a collector" Mr.. Blanton ex.
planned that in some cases Mr.. Fen
ming transferred accounts from him
self as committee TO himself az col
lector and again for himself as col
lector to himself az executor" and
that In each new capacity he re
ceived a commission.
Donovan Is Called.
Daniel !. Donovan. District auditor.
was called and Mr.. Houston took
charge of the eXsmina ton. Mr..
Donovan Was questioned regarding
bonds given by contractors on Dis
trict of Columbia work. Mr.. Donovan
explained that the bonds are executed
in Quadrupicate and copies are de-
posted with the controller general,
the chief clerk of the Engineer De
partment, the auditor and copy
kept by the contractor. He intro.
duced Roland NJ. Brennan as the chief
clerk of the Engineer Depa ment.
While MIR. Donovan was II witness
MIR. Blanto reviewed the case of
Orville Staples In which he and MIR.
Donovan some time ago had
sq,Ia bible.
Mr.. Gibson questioned whether en-
ployes in Mr. Donovan's Office and
throughout the District service are
under civil service and elected the
reply that police and fremen are
under civil service, but that all other
employees are by appointment or the
District Commissioners, including
heads Of departments.
Mr.. Bla nton questioned Mr.. Donova n
regarding the use by Mr.. Fenning OF
an 81 S0O-a year fireman as cha uneur.
MIR. Donovan said he knew nothing
about IL and there was nothing in the
law or regulations OF the Fire Depart
ment forbidding it. Mr.. Blanton said
Il put YOU on notice to look into II. y
MIR. Blanton also asked Mr.. Donovan
| II he knows anything about Mr..
Jennings interest in big garage In
the District" Mr.. Donovan answered
that he knew nothing whatever about
MIR. Jennings private AFFAIRS.
Asks About Fiscal Policy.
Mr.. Gibson then questioned Auditor
Donovan. from his very intimate
knowIed2e of the financial affairs of
| the District. to state his views I'd
| ing proper fiscal relations between
| the District OF Columbia and United
states. MIR. Gibson said he had heard
numerous com plants regarding assess
ments and asked Mr.. Donovan for a
statement.
Mr.. BlantOn then engaged in heat
| ed argument with Mr.. Donovan re-
eardins assessments. He said he knew
lots of property of congressman and
| Senators which is assessed at only
half value" Mr.. Donovan said in re-
ply to criticisms against the assessor
that he is human and may make mis-
| takes, but he ix honest at heart and
dnipo hi hast anil IN f0rS
from cha irman Gibson, Mr.. Donovan
"a Id he is always available and at the
service of the committee.
Mr.. Gibson inserted in the record
file of guardians fees in each one
Of the 4S States and the District Of
Columbia. which MIR. Blanton com
mented will be very important to us"
Mr.. Brennan was the next witness
| and was questioned by MIR. Houston
regarding the number OF bonds and
compan mics surety on such bonds fur.
nished by contractors on District
work, and especially regarding com.
panies represented by MIR. Fennine az
agent or solicitor. Mr.. Brennan sal
| total Of 425 bonds have been given
by contractors since Mr.. Fenning took
| office and that 25 Of these are In com.
| panies for which Mr.. Fenning is
agent. Questioned regarding bonds Of
District officials since Mr.. FenninS ha q
been Commissioner. MIR. Brennan re.
piled that so had been executed and
| Is Of these are in Mr.. Jennings COM
pany.
Will Show BOssd Details.
| Mr.. Gibson questioned. You mean
he has been writing the bonds OF other
officials?" Mr.. Brennan replied. His
name is not on any Of them" MIR.
Brennan was instructed by the com.
mittee, to prepare a detailed list of
| fheSn hOndx