Evening star., 1926-06-06
Democrat Makes Sudden Re-
quest to Examine Accused.
Gets Chance Tomorrow.
HEADLEY TAKES STAND
TO DENY ALLEGATIONS
Says He Did Not Want Eldridge
Post and Did Not Refuse
to Cooperate.
AS the curtain was about to descend

AS the curtain was about TO 0eSCenO
yesterday afternoon on the House
judiciary subcommittee investiSa-
ton of the BlantOn impeachment
charges against Commissioner Fred
erick A. Fenning, last-minute re-
quest was received from Representa-
tive Rankin, Democrat, Mississippi.
for permission to cross-examine Mr..
Fenning on the World War veteran
guardianship of the specifications, and
in granting it Chairman Dyer, Re-
publican, Missouri, was forced to con-
tinue the hearing until tomorrow.
Upon the completion of Mr.. Ran
kin's quiz of the Commissioner, the
testimony will lie closed and the case
will he taken under consideration by
the special body for report TO the full
committee. which in turn, under pro-
cedure, will report on the resolution
| under which the inquiry has been
held.
The duty of the two bodies will De
to determine if the evidence as pre-
sented against the Commissioner by
Representative Blanton, Democrat.
| Texas, and the defense as offered by
Frank j. Hogan, Thomas p. Little
page and Levi Cook, Mr.. Jennings
attorneys, does or does not prove
high crimes and misdemeanors re-
quiring the interposition of the con-
stitutional powers of this House
Rankin Move Unexpected.
Although Mr.. Rankin has taken no
part in the proceedings, even to the
extent of occupying the role of spec
tatOr. he met Mr.. Fenning across the
witness table during the House World
War veterans legislation committee
investigation of the guardianship
practices in the District and had one
serious clash. Mr. Rankin's offer to
serve as proponent came after Mr.
Blanton unexpectedly withdrew and
after Representative Gilbert, Demo-
crat. Kentucky. who, according TO Mr..
Blanton, was willing to take over the
duties if invited. had refused when
finally approached by Chairman Dyer.
The cross-examination by the Mis-
sissippian will even up the procedure
to certain extent, although Mr..
Fenning, aside from infrequent ques-
tions from the committee during his
direct testimony, will have no cross
examination on the other specifica-
tionS.
Mr.. Hogan rested his case at noon
yesterday, and in the succeeding two
hour session, interrupted for an hour
by a luncheon recess, the tribunal
was given over to hearing both sides
of the Headley demotion incident,
which soon will be a year old.
While the Commissioner was on the
stand cleaning up odds and ends"
that had been inserted in the record
by Mr.. Blanton and which Mr.. Hogan
n 1naClo AI nod LOT ion, he Ot,o
es. although admitting they must not
go unanswered. Capt. Headley en-
tered the committee room and de-
manded of the sergeant at arms of the
House, Joseph Rogers, that he be
given hearing. MIR. Rogers com
municated with Chairman Dyer and
the latter granted the request.
Testimony Brought Move.
Capt. Headley's appearance was in
spired by the testimony offered direct
" and through documents Friday
night by Mr.. Fenning. which was de
signed to show the former inspector
in charge of the Traffic Bureau had
been reduced one grade because he
refused to co operate with Traffic
Director NJ. o. Eldridge. This was
the first official statement on the mat
ter, and was offered in defense of Mr..
Blanton'S charge that commissioner
Fenning 'wrongfully" denoted In
spector Headley.
The captain took the stand and
summed up the entire letter with
this statement: There isn't a single
thing true in it."
Mr.. Eldridge then was called and
swore that at the time the letter was
written the statements embodied
l,4r d., aIt gI,1n
and that his own assertions were ac-
curate and authentic. He offered to
furnish the committee a list of per
sons who, he said. would bear out the
facts, but Chairman Dyer declared he
was only interested in whether or not
the letter had been written by Mr..
Eldridge.
Capt. Headley appeared on the
stand before and after the luncheon
recess. His testimony at first was
given from the report of Friday
nights meeting as it appeared in a
morning newspaper, the officer ex
planning he had been unable to OBJ
tain a copy of the letter in ques-
ton. At the suggestion of Repre-
sentative German. Republican. Illi-
nois, Mr.. Hogan turned over u copy
to him.
Holds Reply Necessary.
Testifying from the newspaper ac-
count, Capt. Headley declared this
is the first knowledge ever had that
charges had been preferred against
me. For my own protection 1t Is
necessary for me to answer them, and
in so doing will step on dangerous
ground"
To the statement in the Eldrtdge
letter that he was "dsgruntled" be-
cause he had not been selected direc
tor of traffic the witness declared that
when the Chamber of Commerce, at
the request of the Commissioners.
was selecting u traffic director. he was
called on the telephone by Rudolph
Jose and told he had been chosen by
a vote of to 3. lie was asked to
accept the position. but, the captain
said, he declined, explaining he could
not afford to give up 80 years serv.
ice in the Police Department and his
forthcoming pension for an uncer-
tainty."
He concluded his discussion of this
phase of the letter by adding, Il was
satisfied with my own job"
Capt. Headley answered the ale
cation concerning his failure to vol
unteer the use of six flood lights and
an acetylene torch in the bureaus
sign shop for use at the time of the
Knickerbocker crash by declaring he
first learned of the disaster from the