Evening star., 1926-05-02

between December 1 and March 81
| four months, in behalf of the District
Corporation Counsel Stephens caused
i to be filed in the Supreme Court lou
cases in lunacy. The justice said that
he was surprised IL the number Is so
small. Mr.. Blanton then asked did
you know that there are 2,2O0 persons
in st. Elizabeth's who have never
been committed?" Justice Mccoy said
he knew that there are a great many,
but not how many.
Justice Mccoy was very positive in
his statements that he is not in favor
of allowing departments such as the
State. War, Public Health, through
the Soldiers Home to order men into
st. Elizabeths. Mr.. Blanton said.
This has been going on for years and
we want you to help us stop it."
Justice Mccoy asked the committee
, to lei him make statement, and he
stood up to make 1t. He spoke as fol-
lows:
There has been criticism of Col.
Fenning and these cases Of lunacy
proceedings with respect to soldiers,
and I have by implication been
that I sign what Col. Fenning puts
under my nose. These soldiers are Of
, unsound mind. The thought has gone
out through the papers and my name
has gone out.
Denies Indifference.
Judge Mccoy said, thank God.
| that my judicia, integrity is not in
question. Now we have got into an
oth 6A11 &c, of %4
arouse sympathy from you or sym
pathy from anyone. The idea has got
abroad that 1 am Indifferent to SOL
diers. II my integrity as judge is
questioned. don't have any sympathy
at all for me, but dig out the facts.
"In March 1917, seeing what was
Gaming before the declaration of war.
| my eldest son entered the National
Guard. After the declaration Of war
my second son promptly went into
a training camp. My third son was
a cripple or he would have gone. My
| oldest daughter went into the land
Army and went on my sons farm in
North Carolina and worked.
Il hate to say it, but when / could
get away from my work in the court
! did clerical work on the Liberty
Loan. l was glad to do it. it was
all / could do, and to speak during
| the drives.
MY second son never came back.
When the training camp came to be
| broken up the commanding officer put
up a notice asking who would volun-
teer to go over at once instead OF
waiting My sons name was at the
head of the list and he never came
back.
Wife With Red Cross.
MY wife worked in the Red Cross.
| The war Is over. Have the people
| forgotten what the soldiers did? Is
| there the same enthusiasm for the sol
| dier as there was when we were afraid
! that they mightn't fight. This may
| be indelicate, but it is due to my own
| family I have had soldier after sol
! dier come to me to get jobs. l have
gone to the Veterans Bureau in be-
| half of many. My oldest son was for
a time in the Veterans Bureau.
| Since he got out of the Veterans Bu'
reau he has followed case after case
| for these service men. l personally
have gone to Mount Alto with my
wife when my health permitted. to GO
into the recreation hall and sit and
talk with these boys and play cards
| and pool with them.
1
is an association known as the Amer
| lean Woman's Legion. One unit OF
this is named after nv son. George
Baldwin Mccoy. MY wife and other
women have been doing work that IS
| known to the American Legion, to the
1 Disabled Veterans. to the Veterans rf
Foreign Wars and at st. Elizabeth S
! Hospital. My wife has done so much
! for the soldiers that for three months
| she has been confined to her room,
broken down by nervous rostration
| due to this work.
| Calls Proceeding Unjust.
"Now I, by inference. with all that
| BACKGROUND and all that has taken
| place, and now with my wife broken
| down, l am suspected Of harrington
what-stabbed a soldier in the back
| stabbed my wife in the back-nerhaps
undone all that she has done. / say
before God. it's an injustice
| Mr.. Blanton arose in his place anc
said, "You have my deepest sympathy
| in your loss, in what you have giver
| to your country. 1t is in the name
! of your own son that we are doing
what we are doing. We are after
some one else, not you-some one who
has been robbing shell-shocket
soldiers. We wouldn't be true to youl
son if we allowed his comrades to bt
| robbed
Mr.. Gibson stated, "As far as
know, no member of the committee
has any question regarding youl
| judicial integrity" Justice Mccoy
| answered. II know no member of thi:
| committee will do me an injustice. AL
| l ask is the facts" Mr.. Gibson said
"In working out remedial Legislation
we hope all you judges will give u:
| your help
| Mr.. Gilbert said: "The press ha:
| stated and witnesses have testified
| whether true or untrue. that which il
my opinion Is not complimentary t.
the court and conditions here" 1t wa:
arranged that the chairman shoulC
| notify the other Judges. one at time
as they are needed as witnesses. 81
as not to interfere with the procedure
of the court Justice Hoehling statet
that this week will start on the fourth
week Of the Wan case.
O'DOnoghue Is Called.
| Daniel w. O'Donoghue was called a:
a witness. Mr.. Gilbert asked him re
garding George c. Gertman. He re
piled that he is secretary of the Bal
| Association of the District and for
merly was chairman of a committee O.
the Bar Association, appointed IL
January. 1923, to examine condition.
and criticisms of members of the bal
regarding court practice and the lacl
of cooperation between bench anC
bar.
He identified a copy of the repor
| made by that committee of 10 of the
| most prominent members of the bar
| including. besides himself, James B
| Archer, Henry E. Davis. James S
| Easily Smith, H. Prescott Galley, Pey
| ton Gordon, George p. Hoover, Johr
E. Laskey, F. d. McKenny ant
| Clarence r. Wilson. He said tina,
i nf iffna VIZ