Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
Attempts to Tear to Pieces
Sordid Story Related
by PaImist.
LEAHY PAVES THE WAY
BY GENERAL SUMMARY
Police Captain Asserts All His Re.
lations With Mrs. Blalock Were
of Business Nature.


charges which have threatened his 33-
year-old career on the Metropolitan
Police Force.
Taking the witness stand in his own
defense when his trial was resumed be-
fore the extraordinary trial board. Capt.
Burlingame proceeded literally to tear
to pieces the sordid story related by
the palmist of her associations with
him.
The veteran police officer was called
to the witness stand after William E.
Leahy, his chief counsel, had paved the
way with general summary of what
the defense would attempt to prove.
What Leahy actually did was to furnish
a skeletonized outline of the story that
Burlingame would tell. leaving the de-
tails to be filled in by his client on
the witness stand
AS predicted Burlingame's defense
Is that all of his relations with Mrs.
Blalock were of business nature and
that he had assisted her because she
was valuable and prolific source of
information, furnishing him with many
reliable tips which enabled him to
round up law yiolators.
Denies Gift Of Money.
Capt Burlingame also denied most
vigorously that he had ever given the
woman any money or that he had ever
had any of the intimate association
with her which she pictured on the wit
ness stand He also denied just as en-
phaticaliy that he was the author of the
collection of sentimental letters which
he Is charged with writing, but, on the
other hand. said he had seen Mrs. Bla-
lock herself write four OF these notes on
the typewriter in his office in the sec
ond precinct station.
Neither Burlingame nor his counsel,
however. gave an explanation OF the
widely discussed "heart-sore daddy" let
ter which the accused officer previously
admitted contained his signature. Leahy,
nevertheless, has denied that Burlin-
game wrote this letter. sy.s~
The S8,70O check, which figured so
prominently in the early stages Of the
trial. Burlingame contended, was with
drawn from Mrs. Blaylock's account at
her own request in order to pay off a
trust on a piece of property she owned
In the 600 block of II street northeast.
The much discussed envelope, which the
palmist also testified contained $500
in bills of large denomination. actually
contained, he said, a Chinese silk hand
kerchief. swhich-he had given her as a
birthday gift.
Burlingame showed no visible sign of
nervousness when called to the witness
stand, and he unfolded his own version
of his relations with Mrs. Blalock in
soft tone, not characteristic of his usual
voice.
Burlingame Starts Defense.
Capt. Burlingame began his defense
at 1880 o'clock. Speaking in barely
audible tones, he described the relation
ship which has existed between him
and Mrs. Blalock.
Capt Burlingame pictured himself as
sort of foster r-father whose interest in
Mrs. Blalock grew out of long stand
ing friendship between him and her de-
ceased father. He said that Mrs. Bla-
lock first came to him for assistance
In business matters and. as they became
better acquainted. that she furnlsned
him with much information which aid
ed him in dealing with the criminal
element in his precinct.
He said that he first met Mrs. Bla-
lock on October Is, 1926, when she call
ed on him in his Office at the station
house. Capt. Burlingame said Mrs. Bla.
lock told him she and her sister had
come to see him about IA years before
while he was stationed at detective
headquarters. He said, however, that ne
had only a vague recollection OF TINS
meeting.
when she came to my office on the
18th of October she told me that every
body was trying to rob her, ana tnat
she had come to me Tor assistance,
knowing that had been friend OF ner
fathers. She started crying and be.
came very excited, but after she nao
told me her troubles I reassured ner,
knowing that there was nothing to be
worried about, and that would nanole
the problems for her.
"First discussed the matter OF
lease on property in the 1000 block of
Wisconsin avenue, which was held by
her. The lease contained certain pro-
visions fixing the responsibility for the
upkeep of the property on her. She
felt that the leasing company should
make the necessary repairs. and was
very much incensed because 1t re-
fused to do so. talked with officials
Of the company and several lawyers
before finally advising her that she
would have to make the repairs herself.
Engages Contractor.
"She urged me to handle the matter
for her. and went ahead and engaged
a contractor named Reeve to make the
repairs. Mrs. Blalock objected to the
price he asked. and said she had 6
friend who was In the contracting busi-
ness and would do the work more
chearly. When bids were submit
ted however. she found that her friend
wanted. approximately 5000 more than
Reeve. and she decided to let the lat
ter do the work.
when the contract was drawn up
she persuaded Reeve to fix his price. as
stated in the contract at a figure
several hundred dollars lower than he
had asked. She said that she would
nav the difference, but wanted the
lower stipulation to appear In the con-
tract so She could show it to her friend.
"I also handled several tax adjust
ments for her on property In the 600
block of H street, and often went with
her to the District National Bank in
connection with this matter.
"Delusions" Described.
Burlingame said that Mrs. Blalock
| frequently had "delusions' to the effect
| that the banks and certain real estate
dealers were working In "cahoots" with
the leasers of her property. He said he
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column A.
=