Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-01
Burlingame Supplied Data on
Bitner Case, Presumably
by Her, Board Told.
HOMICIDE SQUAD CHIEF
TELLS OF MURDER PROBE
Defense Uses Prominent Citizens
as Character Witnesses-"Parades
Is Protested by Bride.

defense to be offered by Capt. Guy E.
Burlingame of the second police pre-
cinct on charges growing out of his
association with Mrs. Helen F. Blalock.
seventh street palmist, cropped out at
the trial today when Lieut.. Edward j.
Kelly. chief of the homicide squad. tes-
tilted that information which Capt.
burllngame received. presumably from
Mrs. Blalock, figured in the investiga-
tion OF the murder last THANKSGIVING
day of Philbert Bitner. filling station
employe.
Mrs. Blalock was questioned on this
point when she was testifying, but de-
MED that she had given Capt. Burlin-
game any information which led to ar
rests in the killing.
Lieut.. Kelly said he went to Can't.
Burlingame's Office ON the morning after
the shooting and was told that a COL
ored man had been seen running into
a mouse on Seventh street between p
and Q streets. Capt. Burlingame. it was
said. received this information between
IL and IL o'clock on the night of the
his own initiative. When Lieut.. Kelly
and other members of the homicide
squad came to the precinct on the fol-
lowing morning he furnished them with
information resulting from this investi-
cation.
Searched House i'm Question.
Acting on the information furnished
oy capt. Burilngame, headquarters de-
tectives went to the house in question,
but found. after investigation, that none
Vi itS occupants had participated in the
murder.
Mrs. Blalock's name was not mer-
toned in this testimony, but Defense
Counsel Leahy has said he was laying
The groundwork for additional testi-
mony which will be offered at a later
time TO show that Capt. Burlingame
regarded the palmist as a valuable
source OF information as to conditions
IN his precinct. and that he cultivated
ner acquaintance for this purpose.
support Burlingame.
Prominent Washington business men.
and the highest officers in the Police
Department, today threw their support
behind Capt. Burlingame.
These representative citizens, appear
ing as character witnesses, pictured
capt. Burllngame as an officer who has
the coincidence and esteem of the COM
munity-a man whose reputation, eff
ciency and effectiveness as a policeman
Is exceptional and man whose record
Tor truthfulneSS, integrity and moral.
lty had not been questioned until the
palmist made her charges.
Inc procession of character witnesses
continued from the opening of the trial
until III O'Clock. and after IL had tes-
tined, Chief Prosecutor William w.
Bride raised an objection to what he
oescrlped as "a continuous parade of
character witnesses" pointing out that
Burlingame had not been charged with
lnefhciency and that it seemed to hin,
10 be an unnecessary waste of time and
an UNDUE waste of expense to the Dis
trict government to drag out the tria,
Dy the introduction of so many charac-
ter witnesses.
We will admit his efficiency as ar
officer and that his reputation is cool
IN the community" declared Bride.
Pernaps you could bring from 5000 tn
10000 persons here to testify before
the board as to Capt. Burlingame's
character. 1t seems like a parade, and
IKE the inaugural parade, 1t should be
limited"
Leahy Answers Bride.
Chief Defense Counsel William z.
Leahy Immediately answered Bride with
a declaration that the so-called par
ace Oh character witnesses was arranged
TO offset the. subtle attack" that
mad been made on Burlingame's char
acter, and that he regarded their tes-
timony to be essential and of utmost
Importance in this case.
In view of this explanation, the
prosecution withdrew its objection.
III 1t IS possible to drive a dagger
into the back of a man, it has been
done in this case by one woman" Leahv
said Ill his argument. HE could not
be the character of man that this
woman has painted him to be on the
stand and also be the type OF
man these character witnesses have
described"
Introduction of the large and promi
nent array of character witnesses was
the first step of the defense in the
OF its case, the prosecution
having rested its case before adjourn
ment OF the trial board yesterday after
noon.
The character testimony will be the
only move of the defense today. Both
The defense and the prosecution
reached an agreement before the be-
ginning OF the trial board session TODAY
10 an adjournment in the trial from
1880 o'clock this afternoon until 10
o'clock Tuesday morning. The trial
board approved the arrangement. as its
members have certain obligations to
meet IN connection with the presidential
inaugural ceremony
Herbert l.. Davis. lawyer and former
auditor of the District Supreme Court,
headed the procession of character wit
lesseS He said he had known Capt.
3urlingame very intimately" for more
han Is years and had intruSted him
With highly important matters of great
ielicacy."
Minister Testifies.
The next witness was Rev William S.
Abernethy, pastor of the Cavalry Baptist
Church. who testified Ito an acuuaint-
inceship with Capt. Burlingame for the
aSt six or seven years. II personally
nave always regarded Capt. Burlingame
# the highest honor" said DIR. Aber-
lethy. Everybody that I have known
nave always regarded him as an officer
II the highest efficiency"
Robert N. Harper, president of the
District National Bank, the third wit
less, said he had known Burlingamc for
rom IL to Is years and that he had
lever heard anything said against him
is a police officer and had never heard
lis honesty, integrity or morality ques-