Evening star., 1936-06-24
MARYLAND GETS
z|ONCHECK PLUS
. SANITY PROBLEM
Representative Taken to
Baltimore Sanitarium in
Strait-JaCket.
"KIDNAPED," HE SAYS
THREATENING SUIT
Rule Ordering Appearance in Dis
trict Supreme Court Tomorrow
Is Voided.

The task of passing upon the SAN
ity of Representative Marion A. Zion
check rested with Maryland authori-
ties today after Zionchecks transfer
yesterday afternoon from Gallinger
Municipal Hospital to a semi-private
sanitarium on the outskirts Of Bal
timore.
The change of Jurisdiction was au-
thorized by Justice Daniel w.
O'Donghue upon request of Zion
checks bride and her counsel, Max H.
zimmerman, who agreed to have the
Representative committed to Shep-
pard and Enoch Pratt Hospital at
Towson, Md.
The transfer of Zioncheck across a
State line voided rule under which
he was ordered to appear before a
District Supreme Court jury tomor-
row to show cause why he should not
be declared insane and confined to an
institution.
The Washington State Representa-
tive, who had been under mental OBJ
servation at Gallinger since June IL,
was carried from the hospital in a
straight jacket, on Stretcher, placed
in an ambulance and accompanied to
Towson by physician, nurse and
three hospital attaches.
Swift Ambulance Trip.
Zioncheck, who has quite reputa-
ton for fast driving himself, was
treated to a swift jaunt in Board of
Public Welfare ambulance, which left
Gallinger at pm, covered almost
so miles, and deposited him at the
Maryland institution l hour and IS
minutes later, after threading Wash
tngton and Baltimore traffic. Mean
while, zioncheck protested he was
being kidnapped"
The Representative rode under
blankets in straight jacket, stretched
on g cot, while a nurse mopped his
perspiring brow and handed him a
cigarette from time to time.
At Laurel substation of State police,
where the ambulance was halted in
q futile effort to obtain police es-
cort, Zioncheck kidded his attend
ants. He said to Clarence e. Geiger,
. Board of Public Welfare transfer
officer:
"Say, don't you know you're en-
dangering the lives of private citi-
zens, going go or 70 miles an hour
That's what they put me up for. You
better be careful, they might get
YOU"
At the hospital Zioncheck de-
manded to see the superintendent.
An admitting physician said he was
not the superintendent, but was in
charge there:
Threatens to Sue.
We'll" zioncheck said, Il want to
put you on notice that was kidnapped
and brought here against my will.
I'm going to sue this place and have
1t knocked down at a sheriff's sale!"
The Representative told reporters
1t took eight men to put him in the
straight jacket.
Maryland authorities said that
patients once committed for mental
observation In that State usually won
their freedom by establishing their
sanity before jury. In few cases,
however, mental patients are dis
charged ON recommendations of
physicians who had them under OBJ
servation.
Assistant Corporation Counsel T.
Gillespie Dalsh, who signed the
petition of the District Commissioner
under which the lunacy hearing was
set, said he did not know how long
Zioncheck would remain at the Mary
land institution. 1t was indicated
that District authorities would not
seek to regain jurisdiction in the
case.
Zioncheck's friends in Congress had
advised him several weeks ago to
enter the hospital at Towson. Re-
Gently, all arrangements were COM
pleted to take the Representative
there, but Zioncheck refused to go
voluntarily.
Lunacy Hearing Set.
Shortly afterward the District Com
miSsioners petitioned for a lunacy
hearing and stated the belief that
<LUllCtlcCk WIS all lIlSdIle peTSOu
with 'homicidaI' tendencies who was
dangerous" to be at large. A Dis
trict Supreme Court justice set the
lunacy hearing date.
The Government summoned 20
witnesses, including Zioncheck's bride
Of two months. When served with the
rule to show cause, Zioncheck said he
would appear as his own counsel
before the jury.
Zioncheck's arrest and commitment
to Gallinger ended a series of madcap
adventures climaxed June l, when the
Representative left beer bottles and
moth balls at the White House as a
"present" for President Roosevelt and
drove his high-powered roadster down
the sidewalk and through red lights.
The firm Of King & Brodie was
retained by Mrs. Zioncheck to repre-
sent her husband at the expeeted
hearing. The defense attorneys were
out Of the city and could not be
reached for q statement.