Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-18
.BLANTON SILENT
ON BRIDE MEETING
Texan Holds Secret Confer
ence With Counsel and
William H. Collins.

The scene of the major development
in the Burlingame- -Blalock case today
shifted back to the Office of Representa-
tive Blanton of Texas. where he held
an hours secret conference with Cor
poration Counsel William w. Bride and
william H. Collins, assistant United
States attorney for the District.
The lips of both Bride and Collins
were sealed when they left Blanton's Of
flee and the Texan also refused to
make any statement whatsoever as to
the nature of the discussion. 1t was
learned. however, that he turned over
to Collins the original sensational
affidavit of Mrs. Helen F. Blalock to-
gether with the original love letters
Burlingame is alleged to have written.
Heretofore Blanton has zealously
guarded the originals of these docu-
ments. and his action in turning them
over to Collins, it was said, is indica-
tive of his intention completely to dis
it entirely to District officials and the
United States attorneys Office to prose-
cute.
Burlingame Renews Plea.
While Blanton was closeted with Col
Inns and Bride Capt. Guy E. Bur-
lingame of the second police precinct.
who was suspended week ago at his
own request, came back to the District
nx.A 4va xrttkl AEof
Edwin B. HesSe, superintendent OF po-
lice. Is understood to have renewed his
plea for a speedy trial.
Besides refusing to reveal the nature
of his mysterious conference with Bride
and Collins, Blanton also declined to
amplify or comment on a prepared
statement he issued last night, in which
he emphatically declared he would not
be witness in the Burlingame case
and indicated that despite previous
promises he would make no further
effort to persuade Mrs. Blalock to re-
turn to Washington and testify against
the suspended police captain.
In the face Of Blanton's announce
ment, however, District officials ap-
parently are confident that Department
OF Justice agents, who have been on
Mrs. Blalock'S trail for more than
week, will produce her when she is
needed
The conference between Blanton, Col
Inns and Bride began at Ills o'clock
and ended exactly an hour later Cor
poration Counsel Bride said this morn
ing before his conference with the Tex
an that he would proceed to draw the
charges which Burlingame will be called
upon to answer without the presence
OF Mrs. Blalock, but lntimatad that the
case would be weak one" without
the palmist's testimony He did not
indicate whether his talk with Blanton
had caused any change in his plans.
Bride pointed out that in the absence
OF Mrs. Blalock the tnly charge that
he could possibly draw against Burl-
ingame would be that of conduct un-
becoming an officer. In this event
the love letters would play the only
part in the trial.
Declines to Be "Goat."
In his prepared statement Blanton
said District officials handling the Bur-
ingame case had no excuse for at
tempting to drag him into the trial of
Capt. Burlingame.
Il am not going to be the goat in
their police scandals" the statement
read. IT don't intend to allow District
officials, whose actions 1t has been my
sworn duty to investigate and criticize.
to embroil me and subject me to
malicious indignities in unfounded re-
taliation.
II am not to be a witness In the
Burlingame case. If had personal
knowledge of any material fact neces-
sary to its adjudication, I would will
lingly testify. But I know of no fact
needed in Burlingames trial. I was
merely the medium through which un-
fortunate Mrs. Blalock sent her COM
plant and documentary evidence to the
authorities
THE District government should now
file its own complaint. It's only con-
Germ should be did Burlingame write
the letters?'" If he did he should be
put off the force.
Mrs. Blalock is not needed to prove
that he wrote the letters. And it is
not necessary to show that they came
to the authorities through me.
1T doesn't matter how they got hold
OF them. The District government can
prove by experts beyond peradventure
OF a doubt that Burlingame wrote the
letters. He will not deny that he wrote
them.
i can produce the typewriter from
Burlingame's Office upon which he wrote
them. That should be sufficient. There
is no excuse for attempting to drag me
into the trial"