Evening star., 1926-04-21
DIR. WHITE HITS PROBERS.
Repeats Testimony to Controvert I'm
pressiOns Leaking Out"

Disturbed over reports that leaked
out last night from the District sub
committee investigating charges
against Commissioner Frederick A.
Fenning, which he characterized as
very misleading" DIR. William A.
White, superintendent Of st. Eliza
beths Hospital, today declared he
was asked to come down, treated as
a pickpocket and submitted to a grill
ing cross-examination for two hours"
The purpose Of his presence was not
announced, DR.. White added, other
than that he was given copy of the
resolution calling for the investiga-
ton, which showed a lot of glitter
ing generalities, but did not mention
my name"
DR.. White declared the bulk Of the
examination and cross-examination
was conducted by Representative
Blanton. Democrat, Texas. leaAer of
the fight against Commissioner Fen
ming, "and who assumed the role of
an accuser."
White Repeats Testimony.
Although the session last night was
executive" the fact that misleading
reports" leaked out spurred DR.. White
to repeat today what he told the COM
mittee last night. He testified, he
said. that he and Commissioner Fen
ming maintain joint bank account
at the National Savings and Trust
Co., which they have held for years
in connection with small dealings in
mortgages. Both he and the Com
missioner. DR.. White said, have en-
ployed their savings to earn more
money than the banks could give
them, by dealing in these mortgages.
Not since Mr.. Fenning became Com
missioner; however, the doctor added,
have there been any additional pur-
chases of mortgages. "In fact" he
explained, I'VE are closing out the ac-
count because there is too much big
capital in the field. Nothing was said
as to when this business started or of
it's status now. 1t was entirely graft
tutious on the part of some one to
say that Mr.. Fenning and 1 have
joint investment"
DIR. White said the intimation also
was given In the leak" that II gave
this guardianship business to Mr..
Fenning in order that 1 could call
upon him for free legal advice for my
personal use. I named several rea-
sons to the committee, one of which
was in the case of patients with very
small incomes. 1 didn't think it fair
to call on a lawyer to give up his
time and lose money to handle 1t.
Because I knew Mr.. Fenning person
ally 1 felt I could call upon him to
do it. Also when / wanted to find
out the legal slant on several of these
cases I could go to him unhesitat-
ingly."
Business Being Closed.
Referring again to the large mort
gage business" which the reports
credited him with being interested in,
DR.. White said: "All the charges that
have been brought are not real hon.
est-to-God charges, but innuendoes.
We haven't bought a thing since a
considerable time before Mr. Fenning
became Commissioner. We did long
ago, but in recent years the large
moneyed interests have made 1t i'm
possible. We've been closing out the
business for years.
Mr.. Blanton would like to make
out that we are a couple of large
plutocrats."
DIR. White said he was in favor of
having the subcommittee sessions
open to the public to prevent such
false intimations" as he referred to
being broadcast.
DIR. White will resume the stand at
1880 o'clock tonight.