Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-09
Defense May Call One or
Two More Witnesses
Before Resting.
TRIAL BOARD TAKES
WEEK END RECESS
Both Sides Give Assurance They
Will Be Able to Conclude Case
in One More Day.

The extraordinary trial board hear
ing the charges of conduct unbecoming
an officer against Capt. Guy E. Burlin-
game rested today while the defense
and prosecution prepared for the clos
ing events in the trial which is to be re-
sumed Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
The defense has virtually completed
the presentation of its case. William
E. Leahy, the chief counsel for Capt.
Burlingame, has indicated, however,
that he may call one or two more wit
nesses before finally resting his case.
Conclusion Seen Monday.
According to the program Of pro-
cedure agreed upon by the opposing
attorneys, the trial will come to an end
some time Monday afternoon. the rebuff
tai and arguments, as well as the teSti-
mony of the additional defense wit
nesseS, being crowded into one day. The
original schedule agreed to by both
sides called for a session today for the
rebuttal, but it was altered shortly be-
fore adjournment of the trial board
yesterday afternoon when the defense
and prosecution gave assurance that
they would be able to complete the final
presentations in one more day.
The closing session is expected to de-
velop several surprises. The defense
has intimated that it may call one of
the two sisters of Mrs. Helen F. Bla-
lock. the accuser of Capt. Burlingame,
as its final witness. According to Leahy.
There is some doubt about her appear
ance, however, as she has been fright
ened by several anonymous threats. one
of which. he SAID warned her that her
tongue would be cut out if she talked.
Mrs. Blalock also may return to testify
in the rebuttal for the prosecution.
Counsel Clash Verbally.
A sharp verbal clash between oppos-
ing counsel marked the close of the
trial yesterday afternoon. 1t was pre-
cipitated when Leahy served notice
that he intended to include in the record
of the hearings remarks made by for
mer Representative Blanton of Texas
about Capt. Burlingame. 1t was met
with a vigorous objection from both
Chief Prosecutor William w. Bride and
his assistant Walter L. Fowler, but the
trial board failed to sustain the prosecu-
ton.
Leahy declared that Blanton's state
ments would support his contention that
Capt. Burlingame is the victim Of
frame and the defense was en-
titled to put into the record anything
and everything which might show the
motive behind the charges against the
veteran police officer.
The defense, Leahy argued, has made
Mrs. Blalock repudiate statements in
her affidavit made before .Blanton in
the same way it has ripped to pieces
the testimony of the palmSt. "Now,
maintain" he declared, I'VE are Justi-
fed in presenting to this board such
facts as will show the animosity and
venom and the desire for vengeance
which prompted this whole proceeding
and without which there would have
been no proceeding"
Corporation Counsel Bride responded
vehemently with a declaration that the
whole defense was nothing but q
smoke screen" designed to confuse and
mislead the trial board.
"Smoke Screen" Charged.
eve are willing to have the defense
counsel show whatever he may show
that is pertinent to this case" said
Bride. There has been no effort on
our part to clog the presentation of any
possible explanation the defense might
have against these charges. But this
simply is in line with other things which
We have permitted, and, in fact, the
whole defense is nothing but a smoke
screen raised in an effort to divert
and deceive the trial board
Leahy also sought to show that Mrs
Blalock had not produced various peril
nent papers before the board because
those papers were in trunk in the
possession of Blanton, but Bride in
sisted that evidence in the record
showed the trunk to be in Chicago
where the woman Was loratad bv To-
partment of Justice agents. Bride also
argued that the date on the letters
showed an association between Burlin-
game and Mrs. Blalock prior to Blan-
toms entry into the case Leahy con-
tended. however, that the defense did
not admit the accuracy of the dates
on the letters.