The Washington times., 1935-08-02
SAYS SELLERS
TOLD HER OF
SMOKES
Probers Told BIanton
Paid Hotel Bill of
; Patton Accuser
International News Service

tee utility lobby investigation and
defended her father, Representa-
tive Nat Patton CD of Texas,
against suspicious arising from a
gift of cigars from a power COM
pany official.
Bonnie told the investigators
that she had been worried over
the newspaper headlines about
daddy"
Both the House committee and
the Senate group which is con-
Quoting parallel inquiry recently
heard testimony by E. v. Sellers,
a friend of Representative Patton,
and former utility representative
in Texas, which raised doubts as
to the contents of box given
Patton by John w. Carpenter,
president of the Texas Light and
Power Company.
Contained Cigars
Shortly after Representative
Patton had received the mysteri-
Gus box of cigars, Bonnie testified,
Sellers took her to a motion pic
ture show. She said:
"After we came out Of the
show, / asked Mr.. Sellers to buy
q newspaper because / was
worried about the headlines
concerning daddy. He said
there was nothing to worry
about and he told me:
"T know they were cigars
because / smoked one myself.
Norris Shook, Patton's nephew,
preceded his cousin to the stand.
He contradicted testimony by Mr..
Sellers, who said he had discussed
whether the box contained cigars
with him. Shook said he never
discussed the contents of the box
with Sellers.
BlantOn Paid Bill
Testimony that Representative
Blanton CD of Texas had paid
Sellers hotel bill and had taken
a whisky bottle filled with "kero-
sene" from the vacated hotel room
was given the committee.
Leo Brennan, clerk of the
George Washington Inn, said Rep
resentative Blanton came to the
establishment recently and paid
the bill, which amounted to $69.
He added Blanton had taken a
package from Sellers room.
He was asked:
what was in the package?"
At this point Representative
Blanton, who was sitting in the
committee chamber, interjected:
II can tell you about it. 1t
was kerosene in a whisky bot
tle."
HOpSOn Trailed
Meanwhile House committee in
vestigators reported they were hot
on the trail" of H. C. HopSon,
head of the Associated Gas and
Electric System, who is wanted
for questioning by the Senate
committee inquirlng into utilities
lobbying.
A clue to Mr.. Hopson's where
abouts was given the House group
yesterday by Bernard B. Robin
son. Chicago securities dealer,
who acted as chief lobbyist for
the A. G. and E. during the bat
tie over the holding company
"death sentence"
Mr.. Robinson informed the com
mittee Mr.. Hopson had called him
over the long-distance telephone at
q local hotel Sunday evening and
advised the investigators to look
for him either at Scarsdale, N. "
or at Miami Beach, Fla.
Phone Clue Followed
William H. Collins, special attor-
ney for the House committee
which is conducting a parallel in
quiry to that of the Senate group,
Immediately subpoenaed telephone
records of the hotel and enlisted
the aid of the telephone company
in an effort to trace the call.
In the event Mr.. Hopson is
found by the House committee.
Mr.. Collins said he would not be
turned over to the Senate inVesti-
gators, He intimated he was seek
ing to arrange a deal with Mr..
Hopson to appear before his group
instead of the Senate committee.
Ready to Appear
These negotiations may be car
ried forward through Robinson.
The latter testified before the
House committee that he believed
witnesses appearing before the
Black committee would be "cru-
Gifted" through improper ques-
tioning."
Collins said he believed Hopson
is willing to appear before the
House committee at any time.
Should he appear before that
body. Collins added, the Senate
committee will be unable to sub
poena him. He said:
"They cannot take him away
from us before we are through
with him. BY the time we are
through questioning him there
won't be anything left for the
Black committee to ask him."
HEALTH POOR
Robinson told Collins that Hop
son was in dangerous health and
that he stood in danger of
throat infection which might be
fatal.
The Senate committee wants to
question the utilities head con-
cerninp his cnnnanv's actiuitiar