Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
CAPT. BURL|NGAME
DECLINES TO REPLY
TOBLALOCK STORY
Officer Refuses to Explain
Accusations to D. C..
Commissioners.
HESSE HINTS ATTORNEY
SHOULD TAKE NEXT STEP
Superintendent Indicates He Cam
not Urge Further Action Unless
Developments Warrant.

Capt Guy E. Burlingame Of the second
police precinct today courteously de.
clined to give the District Commits
sioners an explanation Of the sensations
a. charges of Mrs. Helen F. Blalock,
the missing Seventh street palmist.
Taking the position that there Is
neither an appropriate occasion nor a
proper reason at this time to answer
such felonious accusations as Mrs. Bla-
lock placed in the affidavit she gave to
Representative Blanton of Texas, Bur-
lingame indicated he would continue to
adhere to his rigid policy of silence until
the case goes into the courts, If 1t should
be taken there.
Capt. Burlingame personally submit
ted his reply to the questions Of the
Commissioners to Mai. Edwin B. Hesse,
superintendent, as directed, about 10:30
o'clock this morning-an hour and q
half in advance of the deadline. He
appeared to be in jovial mood as he
walked into the Office of the police
superintendent and handed to him the
envelope containing his answer to the
letter of the Commissioners, q type
written copy of the palmist's affidavit
and photostatic reproductions of the
sentimental letters which Blanton said
the woman had turned over to him at
his home at Abilene, Tex.
Hesse Confers With Hart.
Shortly after Burlingame left Maj.
Hesse went to the office of the cor
poration counsel, where he conferred
for nearly an hour with Ringgold Hart,
principal assistant corporation counsel.
The nature of the discussions was not
revealed, but it is understood Maj. Hesse
sought legal advice as what action he
might take in view Of Burlingame's re-
fusal to reply to the questions of the
Commissioners.
The text of the reply follows:
This will acknowledge the receipt
of your communication of February 2,
1929, together with the Enclosure there
IN OF photostatte COPY Of an affidavit
made By Mrs Helen +. Blaloek before
Florence Clifton. notary public, In and
for Taylor County. Tex. on the nine
teenth day of January, 1929. and copies
of seven certain letters alleged, as you
advise. to have been written by me and
further identified by the dates and sig
natures thereon as In said communica-
ton indicated. / herewith return them
to you in accordance with the request
you have expressed. note, however,
you write: The Board of Commits
sioners direct you (meaning mel to
submit to me (meaning YOU'D such ex-
PLANTATION or statement in writing as
may wish to make. In Connection
with the foregoing on or before Tues
clay, February 5, 1929. at noon.' With
the greatest respect for that authority
you represent as my superior ofdcer
as we'll also as that of the honorable
Board of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia at whose direction
you have written me as you state, am
convinced you will agree with me that
am called upon at this time neither to
express nor wish to make any state
ment whatsoever in connection with
the matters your communication sug-
gestS. and do not consider should be
called upon so to do unless and until
some appropriate occasion or proper
reason shall have occurred to warrant
the expression upon my part Of that
explanation your letter apparently in
vites. particularly in the present status
",
informed by the public press not only
upon the part of the United States at
torney in and for the District of Co
lumbia, but also of other committees,
boards and investigating bodies-neither
the purpose nor the result of which has
been communicated to me. Upon the
happening either of that appropriate
occasion or proper reason, will then
take advantage most gladly not only Of
your kind suggestion, but that of the
honorable Board of Commissioners as
In your. communication expressed I am
further convinced you thoroughly un-
derstand that this reply is dictated
neither by any unwillingness to ac-
cede to your personal wishes with ref
erence to any matter which may ad-
vance the best interests of the force
Tor which We have both struggled for
many years, nor refusal to cooperate
with our honorable Board of Commits
sioners. whose direction in this regard
your letter indicates you have obsyed.'
Commissioners Make Reply Public.
The District Commissioners were in
semi-weekly board meeting when Bur-
hngame submitted the statement to
MAJ. Hesse. Without reading his an
sWer, the Commissioners directed the
police superintendent to make it public.
The Commissioners. however, plan to
consider the reply at another meeting
this afternoon, but they are not eK-
pected to take any action until they
receive recommendation from Mai
Hesse. Additional time was allowed
the police superintendent to make a
recommendation.
While he had not reached a definite
decision early this afternoon, Mai. Hesse
intimated that because Burlingame had
declined to make a statement at this
time, he could not, with propriety. rec
ommend anything except that no action
be taken by District authorities until
there are further developments in the
case.
Awaits U. s. Attorneys Move.
Mai Hesse gave the impression thar
the next move should be made by the
United States attorneys Office, where
the case was referred for Investigation
by the Gibson subcommittee Of the
House.
Maj Hesse was surrounded by
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