Evening star., 1936-05-29
GARNETT TO GET
TOWNSEND DATA
Sullivan Likely to Assist
In Presenting Case to
Grand Jury.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Gran0 Jury.
t- BY JOHN C. HENRY.
Speaker Byrns will certify all in
formation in the Townsend cases to
District Attorney Leslie G. Garnett
late this afternoon, the Speaker an
nounced.
The information includes the House
resolution, the special report OF the
committee investigating old-age pen
sion plans and other materials coll
lected by Committee Counsel James r.
Sullivan
1T Is thought likely that Sullivan
will be named special assistant to
Garnett in order that he may assist
In presenting the case to the grand
jury, probably next week.
Those named in the contempt pro-
ceedings are Dr. Francis r. Town
send. leader of the $200-a-month
pension movement, and Rev. Clinton
L. Wunder and John B. Kiefer, two of
his key officials.
The House decision to pass the whole
issue along to the district attorney
was made yesterday afternoon after an
hour of bitter wrangling on the floor
with q standing vote of 271 to IL being
registered in favor of the committee
resolution for contempt citation, with
trial to be under Jurisdiction of the
court.
Trial May Await Fall.
At Garnett's Office it was said the
information in the three cases may be
brought before the present grand jury
during the coming week. Since the
court recesses for the Summer on June
80, however, it is not considered prob
able that any trial-aSsuming indict-
ments are returned-would take place
before the Fall session.
Townsend, who already has revealed
he will carry the legal battle to the
United States Supreme Court in the
event he is forced to do so, wired the
committee yesterday he is eager to
have his case tested. adding that he
expects his treatment in the courts to
be relief from that accorded him by
the Investigators He accused the
SO114l141Jcc VI pdSS1IlS Tie DUCK.
Conviction under the statue in
volved carries a penalty of from ! to
IL months in jail and from S1O0 to
$1,000 in fines, either or both.
Friends Of the Townsend organiza-
ton already are claiming that no
grounds exist for indictments, pointing
out that the statute under which the
alleged misdemeanors are being cited
specifies that defendants must be
shown to have "wilfully made default,
or who. having appeared. refused to
answer any questions pertinent to the
investigation
Representative Smith, Democrat, OF
Washington, a Townsend supporter,
pointed out yesterday that no ques-
ton was pending at the time the
doctor walked out on the committee
last Thursday.
Margett Sought.
: Meanwhile, the committee disclosed
last night that it is having trouble
locating Edward ]. Margett, Califor-
MIA leader Of the Townsendites. for
whom subpoena has been issued.
The plan of the committee, as re-
vealed by one Of its members yester-
day, was to subpoena Margett for 10
am. next Thursday and to call
Sheridan Downey, counsel for Town
send, for the same day. If they failed
to answer, both would then be liable
to the same contempt action as that
pending now.
The committee was informed by the
United States marshal at San Fran
cisco that Margett, who once boasted
of his Townsend income and offered
to face the committee at any time,
has disappeared.
Later this morning, however. Mar
Eett was reported at Townsend head
quarters in San Francisco, still breath
Ing defiance of the committee and ex-
pressing surprise that the marshall had
been unable to locate him.
< Planning to continue its hearings
next Monday, the committee has
Charles M. Hawks, Townsend organizer
q Massachusetts, ready to testify. It
was learned yesterday that Hawks re-
Signed his connection with the Town.
send organization last Saturday and
will heed the committees wishes.
=, The House vote on the committee
resolution and report was preceded
by efforts of Representative Monaghan,
Democrat, Of Montana, first to have
the action ruled out Of order and then
to force roll call vote on each issue.
After raising numerous objections the
Montanan finally was ordered by
Speaker Byrns to take his seat while
members on the floor were overheard
to suggest calling the sergeant-at-
arms to remove the determined Town.
sendite.
No debate was allowed on the COM
n1ittee recommendations as Chairman
Bell moved the previous question, a
parliamentary device, and saw it