Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-22
Z Of Mrs. Hobbs
LandIadies Due
To Testify Today
| .ouehIin Defense
To Question Both,
On Former Tenunt

Two former landladies Of Mrs.
Esther Packard Hobbs.,were to be
called today in the District Court
abortion trial of Attorney J. Laugh
liz and DR.. Henry l.. Peckham, jr,
Southeast Washington physician.
The two women summoned as
witnesses by Mr.. Laughlin, are to
be questioned about Mrs. Hobbs
when she lived in Washington. She
was at one time employed by the
Agriculture Department, and she
testified she was later employed by
Mr.. Laughlin in his Office.
She also has testified she UNDER
went two illegal operations per-
formed by DR.. Peckham. The Gov
eminent charges Mr.. Laughlin as
an accessory. The trial Is being
held before a jury Of 10 men and
two women in Chief Justice Bolitha
j. Laws court. '
The witnesses to be summoned
today, Mr.. Laughlin announced, are
Mrs. Mary Thompson of the 2l00
block of First street NV, and her
daughter, Mrs. Mabel Steele. 2070
Belmont road NV. Mrs. Hobbs
testified she lived with Mrs. Thomp-
son when she first came to WASH
ington in January, l945, from Pitts
boro, N. G. She said she lived at
Mrs. Steele's home later -.
Raleigh Woman Testifies.
Mrs. w. Jenkins White of Ra-
leigh, N. c., where Mrs. Hobbs lives
now, testified late yesterday that
Mrs. Hobbs told her "the District
attorney was mad at Mr.. Laughlin
and was using her (Mrs. Hobbs
to get even with Mr.. Laughlin."
This was denied by Mrs. Hobbs
when she testified Tuesday.
This statement was made in con-
versation with Mrs. Hobbs early
this month, Mrs. White said. The
question about the statement was
the only one asked by Mr.. Laugh
lin, on direct examination. He is
conducting his own defense, assisted
by two other attorneys.
Mrs. White, a slim young woman
with her blond hair parted and
drawn back and with green scarf
around her throat, was cross-ex-
amined by Arthur J. Mclaughlin,
assistant United States attorney. g
She said Mrs. Thompson had sent
her some clippings about the case
with a Christmas card and she
had asked Mrs. Hobbs what she
had gotten into. in Washington"
The statement about the district
attorney came out then, she said.
District Attorney George Morris Fay
was the first witness called In the
trial.
Plane Ticket Provided.
Mr.. Mclaughlin brought out that
Charles Flasphaler, an employee Of
Mr.. Laughlin, had talked to her
m Raleigh last Saturday and had
bought the plane ticket for her to
come to Washington. She denied
she had come to Washington with
Mr.. Flasphaler, saying her husband
bad carried her to the plane"
Mr Laughlin sasked her with
whom she had sat in the plane.
She replied with satisfaction she
sat beside Mrs. Roosevelt"
Mrs. Franklin D. ROOSEVELT"
Mr.. Laughlin asked, apparently
surprised.
YES" she answered.
Mrs. Roosevelt was in Raleigh
Saturday for the funeral of jose
plus Daniels.
Stanford Carrier, bartender and
former prize fighter who testified
yesterday morning, was recalled In
the afternoon. He had testified he
had loaned Mrs Hobbs, the then
Miss Pickard, 500 in about mid
March, 1947. He said she told him
she was in trouble and had to have
an operation.
Under cross-examination by Mr.
Mclaughlin, he testified he asked
Mrs. Hobbs If she knew who was re-
sponsible for her pregnancy and she
replied, Yes. But he's gone back to
Hawaii"
After a brief redirect exanina-
ton by Mr.. Laughlin there was q
question whether the witness should
be excused. Mr.. Mclaughlin re-
marked: IN be glad TO have him
excused"
DR.. Benjamin Rones, an eye spe-
cialist, testified Mr.. Laughlin visited
him on March 81 and March 20 for
treatment of a corneal abrasion.
He said Mr.. Laughlin appeared with
a patch on his eye and said he had
been treated first the night before
at the Episcopal Eye, Ear and
Throat Hospital.
DR.. James P. Lyons testified Tues
day he had seen Mr.. Laughlin at
the hospital one evening but he
could not give the date.
The indictment states the illegal
operations took place ION or about"
March 20 and %.
Hnner Named President