Evening star., 1926-05-29
Texan Almost Leaves Ses-
sion, But Comes Back to
Ask More Questions.
FOES TERM EACH OTHER
"BULLY AND COWARD"
Data to Clear Fenning Of Charges
in Medical Issues Are
Presented.

CATION now being conducted by the
House judiciary subcommittee into
Impeachment charges against Com
missioner Frederick A. Fenning were
climaxed shortly before noon today
when the fiery Texan almost left the
committee room.
He reached the point Of picking up
his papers and announcing with
dignity:
Il respectfully withdraw and will
let the committee take over the case"
He was prevailed upon by Chairman
Dyer, Republican, Of Missouri to re.
consider his attitude. and when grant
ed permission to ask witness ques.
ton which had been objected to and
fomented the row he became placid
and continued in the case.
Another sensation at the hearing
was A heated encounter between Mr..
BIanton and Frank J. Hogan. chief
defense counsel-of a nature hereto.
fore not exhibited before the hear
ing. The whole matter fared up when
Mr. Rlanton asked Miss Cornelia L.
Corbett. the witness on the stand,
whether or not she was Of sound
mind while patient at st. Elizabeths s
Hospital back in 1904. and whether
or not Mr.. Fenning. who served as
committee for her mother. also a pa
tient, objected in court to her calling
witnesses for her own defense.
Asks TO Handle" Hogan.
Representative Hersey, Republican.
Maine, sought to drive home the
point that the records Of the case
would speak for themselves. MIR.
oil ,r;O nh
ton to the line Of questioning, and
then Mr.. Blanton flared up.
IN let the committee so on with
the work ITSELF" he shouted.
I'm sorry; I've done the best l
could
Then, turning TO Chairman Dyer.
he requested permission to be turned
loose in order to handle" MIR. Hogan.
IF you'll turn me loose I'll handle
him." he declared.
Turn hini loose, Mr.. Chairman;
turn him loose" demanded MIR.
Hogan, in loud voice.
He hasn't the right to use insult.
ing language against me-" continued
Mr.. Blanton.
II can handle him and will do 1t.
You or no other bully CAM shout.
ed Mr.. Hogan. mo bully or coward
ever scared me yet
Calls Action elementary"
Then, turning to the chairman. Mr..
Hogan explained he arose TO object
to a statement being made by a
witness and to protest against calling
a layman to tell what A certain per
son did. This, he declared, was "ele.
mentary.'
"As a matter of personal priv
ilege," declared Mr.. Blanton. Il want
the committee to instruct him to treat
me with courtesy
Chairman Dyer mildly cautioned
both attorneys to conduct themselves
in an orderly manner.
The storm was settled when Mr..
Over permitted Mr.. Blanton to ask
Miss Corbett IL she were insane dur
ing her period of Incarceration at the
hospital. The witness replied she was
not. and, Furthermore, took care OF
her mother.
Miss Corbett testified that without
warning, in 1904, a patrol wagon
stopped at her house and she and her
mother were taken to st. Eiizabeth's
Hospital. BY court process they were
adjudged insane and Mr.. Fenning
was appointed guardian for the
mother. During their stay at the hos.
uital. she declared, the household ef.
fects Of the two were sold by MIR. Fen
ming for a sum approximating $500,
far below the material and intrinsic
value Of the property, she declared.
Later, on writ Of habeas corpus, the
two were released. and Miss Corbett
won a suit against Mr.. Fenning tor
his action in selling property belong.
petitioner in the lunacy case was DR..
Hamlin. pastor of the Church Of the
Covenant, but the actual record Of the
proceedings showed the District Com
missioners instituted them.
Says Mothers Life Shortened.
Miss Corbett also testified she
brought suit against DR.. Hamlin. but
he died in New York City before the
matter could be considered In court.
Mr.. Hogan asked only two ques-
tions ON cross.examination The first
concerned the date Of Miss Corbett's
fathers death, which she could not
recall. and the age of her mother at
her death, which she gave as 81
wears. The mother died in 1924. Mr..
Blanton, on direct examination. had
asked the witness what effect the In
carceration in the hospital had on
Mrs. Corbett. and the daughter re-
piled. 1T shortened her life"
Answer Medical Charges.
Charges brought against Mr.. Fen
ming by Representative Blanton that
he retarded action on the Gilbert
bill and legislation to license chiro-
practors in the District because
Of Mr.. Jennings connection with the
Medical Society were cleared up at
| the morning session Of the House ju'
dietary subcommittee investigating
the Blanton impeachment charges by
Frank J. Hogan, chief defense coun-
! sci.
! Recalling to the stand DR.. w. G.
| Fowler. District health officer. Mr..
| Hogan obtained from him evidence
which showed that the health oficer
| had recommended to the Commis-
| sioners that an order given him last
year. irstructing him not to enforce
| a certain provision of the Gilbert bill
BE- revoked. This provision required
| physicians to report the names OF
persons affected with venereal dis.
/ eases to the health ofIicer.
| Commissioner Rudolph approved
DIR. .Fowler's request and issued ar
| order revoking the previous instruc
tions, according to documentary evi
dence submitted. One Of the paper,
Continued on Page 5, Column s.l