The Washington times., 1929-02-07
CONGRESS
GROUP IN
SECRET
MOVE

Decisive action IN the case
Of Capt. Guy E. Burlingame,
of the Second precinct, who is
accused by Mrs. Helen F.
Blalock, local palmist, of
threatening her life and prop
erty, were promised by the
Gibson subcommittee of the
House District Committee to-
day.
The COMMITTEES met behind closed
Doors for more than two hours to-
day. after which Chairman Ernest
w, Gibson Of Vermont announced
the formulation of new course
Of procedure in police matters, with
a special reference to the Bur.
linganne case.
Meeting Is Secret
Absolute secrecy attended the
meeting and Gibson declined to give
more than vague and general hints
as to the action taken. He stated
that his -connn1ttse was uRani-
nous in its approval Of new police
policy.
Gibson stated that he would make
a public announeement of today's
action at O'Clock this afternoon.
He said he did not wish to give the
details of the subcommittee plans
before that time, because he did not
wish to be placed in the. position OF
attempting to coerce the District
Commissioners.
He also said that he wanted the
Commissioners to be given full rein
in the case. He declined to com
nent on the refusal of the city
heads Yesterday to go over the head
of Major Edwin g.. Hesse, superln'
tendent of police, and demand Sur.
lineame's suspension, pending trial
on the Blalock charges.
NAV Not Be Poor Palnlist"
Gibson hinted also that Mrs. Bla-
lock may mot be a poor palmist,
but member of a wealthy and
prominent washington family. He
declined to amplify this statement
however.
Representative Thomas L. Blan-
ton of Texas, who aided Mrs. Bla-
lock in getting her charges before
the subcommittee, refused to talk
after the meeting, saying that he
had put himself under the orders
of Chairman Gibson. He Indicated,
however, that he would be ready to
make a statement within the next
"a hours.
There is general impression
that before nightfall the case may
rest in the net of Assistant District
Attorney William II. Collins.
Of
Of the District Commissioners late
Yesterday amid charges OF buck
passing and white washing" with
Major Hesse grimly watching the
proceedings.
Rising In Texan wrath Represen.
tative Blznton declared that the
"District Commissioners and Major
Hssse are more afraid OF Burl.
inxame than he is of them" and
promised to pay his respects, in
full, to the recent developments in
the situation.
Assistant District Attorney Col
lins resumed his inquiry into the
case today. Inasmuch as the Dis.
trict Commissioners are through
with it and win await Grand Jury
proceedings against the fighting pO-
lice captain, the case now enters
upon strictly legal phase.
a. question has arisen as to
whether the presence of Mrs.
Blalock, the missing palmist, Tho
brings the charges against Bur
lingame viii be necessary before
the Grand Jury can proceed.
May Summons BlantOn
A suggestion has been put forth
that Collins may find it necessary
to subpoena Representative Blanton
In his inquiry, in order to obtain
the facts relating to the data which
Mrs. Blalock gave to him. Efforts
may be made to obtain from Blan-
ton facts about the present where
abouts of Mrs. Blalock, without
whose oral testimony the progrecs
OF the case may be blocked.
In some circles it is regarded as
q certainty that there win be no
Grand Jury proceedings without
the .palmist's testimony. The Grand
Jury might bring in recommenda.
ton to the District Commissioners
that Captain Burlingame be sus-
eended or dismissed, but it would
not take up the matter of indicting
him.
There is general expectation
that Mrs. Blalock will make dra-
matte re-entrancs into the case.
under the protection of Representa-