Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-07
Subcommittee Is Apparently
Dissatisfied With BurIingame
Case Developments.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW
POLICY is WITHHELD
Chairman of District Body Expects,
However, to Outline Attitude in
Statement Late Today.

Apparently dissatisfied with the lack
Of developments in the sensational Bur-
lingame- Blalock case, the Gibson sub
committee of the House District COM
nittee met in executive session today
and adopted new policy in its ham
ding of police affairs. The new policy
was not disclosed. but it will be an
nounced in statement Chairman Glib
son expects to issue late this afternoon.
In the meantime agents of the De-
partment of Justice are reported to
have been put on the trail of Mrs. Helen
r. Blalock, the Seventh street palmist
and complaining witness against Capt.
Guy E. Bur,ingame of the second
precinct. and the United States attor-
ney's Office for the District resumed its
Investigation of the case with renewed
vigor. The Federal agents were called
upon to locate the palmist, it was said,
in view of the reluctance of Representa-
tive Blanton of Texas to reveal her MD
ing place, and also because of the posi-
ton taken by the District Commission
ers that there is nothing for them to do
until the woman puts in her appearance
and testifles against the police officer.
The secret meeting of the Gibson
committee was unexpected. The Bur
lngame- Blalock case was the topic OF
discussion, although none OF the mem
bers would reveal anything except that
the committee had decided on another
policy for handling police affairs.
Chairman Gibson, however, announced
xsylai 1a1t RI
that Mrs. Blalock is a myth were with
out foundation, and that she is men,
Der of a prominent Washington family.
In view of the action of the commit
tee, Blanton decided to withhold a
statement he intended to make public
at l O'Clock this afternoon. While the
Texan declined to indicate the nature
of its contents, there have been rumorS
that it would contain broadside
against police and District officials for
failing to take any action against Capt.
Burlingame
William H. Collins, assistant United
States attorney, to whom the investiga-
ton was originally assigned by the
Gibson committee, announced he would
call every essential witness" in the
case. despite the absence of Mrs.
Blalock, and proceed with its prosecu-
-
bffice. he pointed out, halted its inquiry
aast week only for the purpose of giving
The Commissioners an opportunity to
make move, but since they have de-
Clined to do So the duty rests on him to
'clear up the case" if possible.
"On last Friday, at the instance of
The district attorneys office" Collins
raid in prepared statement "a con-
ference was arranged with the Commits
sioner in charge of police, at which it
Eas suggested that the so-called Blalock
matter should in the first instance be
considered by the District Commits
kioners and the superintendent of police
tor the purpose of determining whether
the case should be brought to the police
trial board or whether the case would
warrant any other action as they might
deem proper on the evidence.
Probe to Be Resumed.
"Inasmuch as the district attorneys
bffice is advised that the District OFF,
Gals decided that there was nothing
they could DO in the matter this Office
win Immediately resume investigation
of the matter, suspended during the
consideration by the District officials"
Although Collins or any other at
taches of the United States attorneys
office would not comment for publica-
ton on the action of the Commissioners,
1t was learned that they felt Maj. Edwin
b. Hesse, superintendent of police, and
bther officials, did not proceed in the
proper way in handling the case. Instead
bf giving the accused officer an oppor-
tunity to submit the non-commital
answer that he made TO Mrs. Blalock's
kharges, it was said that the officials
fhould have called him into conference,
confronted him with the evidence and
demanded an explanatory statement.
Maj Hesse however, declared that to
bend Burlingame before the police trial
board in the absence of the complain
ing witness would be "a mere gesture
Ind without fruitful result"