Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-19

The board to try Capt. Guy z.
Burlingame was announced this
afternoon as follows: Mai. ID. A.
Dawson, Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner; DIR. Edgar A. Bocock, SUPER
intendent OF Gallinger Hospital, and
William p. Richards, tax assessor.
Formal charges on which Capt. Guy
E. Burlingame, suspended commander
OF the second police precinct, will be
called upon to answer before an ex.
traordinary trial board were completed
this afternoon by Corporation Counsel
William W. Bride and his assistants.
The general charge is conduct preju-
dlcial to the good order, reputation and
discipline Of the police force" 1t con.
talns a specification accusing Bur.
lingame of conduct unbecoming an of.
ncer, alleging that he wrote certain love
letters, which were introduced as eyi.
dence in the case by Representative
Blanton of Texas. to whom Mrs Helen
F. Blalock, the missing Seventh street
palmist, gave her sensational affidayit
IN Abilene, Tex.
Hasten Plans for Trial.
With the formal charges drawn.
plans now are being made for the trial.
which will be held the latter part Of
THIS week or early next week. The
Commissioners, In session this after.
noon, also are considering the per-
Sonnel OF the special board which will
near the NhaF0oC 81 kkn
captain. The appointments are ex-
pected to be made late this afternoon,
according to Commissioner Proctor L.
Dougherty, chairman of the Board Of
Commissioners.
Meanwhile, at the Capitol It was
learned that the conferees had elini-
mated the amendment attached to the
District appropriation bill in the Sem
ate on motion OF Senator Caraway.
Democrat. of Arkansas, providing that
none OF the money carried In the bill
be used to pay the salary of Capt.
Burlingame until he has been yindi-
Gated or the accusations made against
him.
1t was indicated that the conferees
felt the amendment was not necessary.
since Capt. Buriingame had been stis-
pended pending trial.
Hunt Complainant.
The only remaining obstacle that NAV
hinder swift completion of the plans
for the trial. it developed, is the lack
OF a complaining witness In the alb
scence of Mrs. Blalock, 1t was pointed
out, an official of the District Govern
ment VIII have to assume that position.
put none can be found. it seems, who
is willing to appear in the role of conn
plainant. The opinion OF those in
cnarge OF the prosecution of the case
Is that Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, superin-
tendent of police, should be made the
complainant. but it is known that he
VIII vigorously oppose such a plan.
MAJ. Hesse takes the position that
the case is not officially in his hands
and that 1t would not be in accordanca
WIN customary police procedure for
MN 70 appear as the complainant
when other officials of the District gov
ernment have in their possession the
information on which the charges are
TO be based. In other words, Mai.
Hesse thinks an attempt is being made
to make him "the goat"
Capt. Burlingame is entitled tn 4a
hours in which to prepare his defense.
but 1t Is believed he will be allowed addi-
tional time II he wants it. Burlingame.
however. is understood to be prepared to
go to trial and is known to be anxious
Tor nasty disposition of the case, But
with Washington's birthday, q holiday,
coming Friday. 1t is likely that the
trial Will be deferred until Monday.
Bride Rules Against Special Board.
Corporation Counsel Bride prevented
the original plans to appoint special
srial BOARD composed of majority ot
persons outside the District service in
written opinion he submitted to tho
commissioners soon after they cons
Vened this morning, which held that
sucn board would not be legally con.
sututeo as the municipal government,
mas no fund available to compensate
the members. AS a result, the Conn
missioners. 1t was said. will appoint
board composed Of employees OF the Dis
Irict government
Bride and Ringgold Hart, principsi
assistant corporation counsel, both in.
formally held last week that the Coms
missioneIs mad authority to create q
special trial board made up of any
person or persons" they should ap.
point, but question was raised latef
~netner such a board would be legal II
me members we're not paid for their
services. The Commissioners then
asked Bride for formal opinion.
DeSplte the serious accusations cons
'aineu IN Mrs. Blalock's affidavit, Brida
md his assistants were forced TO con.
Inc the charge to conduct prejudiciai to
ne good order, reputation and discipline
y the Police Department, due to the
ABSENCE of the palmist
Inc renewed activity at the District
5uilding to bring Burlingame to trial
ollowed two important conferences yes
erday between the officials concerned.
both Of which were surrounded with
ecrecy. After Bride returned from the
House ONCE Building. where he con-
erred with Representative Blanton Of
Texas, he called an executive meeting
II two of his assistants, Ringgold Hart
md Walter Fowler, and Maj. Hesse and
discussed the case for several hours.
Not chirp. not a chirp," he told
newspaper men after the conference.
Anything might say now may
eoperdize the case"
1t was learned. however, that the
'lans were laid at this conference for
ctual preparations OF the formal
harges against Buriingame
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