Evening star., 1949-05-20
EberharterNomination
Fiqht Leads Walter 10
Quit Bar Association

Representative Walter, Demo-
erat Of Pennsylvania says he has
resigned from the American Bar
Association In protest against the
type of opposition expressed by an
association spokesman to the
nomination of Representative
Eberharter, also a Pennsylvania
Democrat. to be a Federal judge.
Mr.. Walter is the second ranking
Democrat on the House Judiciary
Committee, dean of the Pennsyl-
vania Democratic congressional
delegation and chairman Of the
Democratic caucus in the House.
He said he had telegraphed his
resignation after yesterdays hear
ing on the Eberharter nomination
because I do not feel I want to
be a member of an organization
that resorts to the extraneous
matter injected into the hearing
to prevent the confirmation of an
entirely competent appointee.
Cancels Convention Speech.
Mr.. Walter, who has been a
member of the bar association for
25 years and was awarded the
associations s award for meritorious
service two years ago, said he also
informed the bar group he does
not care to address its annual
convention at Bedford Springs,
Pa, next month.
The testimony Mr.. Walter said
he was referring to was that given
before the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee by John G. Buchanan OF
Pittsburgh, chairman of the bar
associations Judiciary Committee.
Hearing is Recessed.
The hearing was recessed until
called again by Chairman McCar-
ran. probably early in June.
Among the witnesses likely to-
be called at the next session are
police Superintendent Robert j..
Barrett, Assistant Corporation
Counsel Clark King. Walter
Bramhall, clerk of Municipal
Court, and Roy S. Bridges, a re-
tired District policeman.
Mr.. Buchanan asked that they
be subpoenaed in connection with
a November, 1945. traffic incident
here. Mr.. Eberharter forfeited
$25 collateral at that time on
charges of ignoring an official sign
and disobeying policeman's sig
nal after a car listed to his name
dragged Mr., Bridges 40 feet and
threw him to the ground.
Emphasis at the hearing was
on Mr.. Eberharter's personal life.
Groundwork for Probe Set.
It dealth with alleged drunken
ness, with an early divorce on
grounds of cruel and barbarous
treatment" with traffic incidents,
difficulties with the police, with a
prohibition charge in which he was
found not guilty. with the theft
80 years ago of Victrola records
worth IS cents each-a case that
was not prosecuted-and with act
ing as counsel while member OF
Congress for a bidder in WPA
contract.
At the hearing Mr.. Buchanan
set the groundwork for incidents
which the committee probably will
60 into at greater length at the
next hearing.
One of these, according to testi-
mony of Peter Bentley. Red Bank,
N. j., lawyer, involved the arrest
of Mr.. Eberharter in May, 1945.
"as a disorderly person under the
influence of intoxicating liquor"
The incident. Mr.. Bentley said,
occurred in Penn Station. New
York City, and Newark, N. j.
First-Hand Testimony Sought.
Detailed testimony by him was
cut of by Senator McCarran as
being secondhand but before he
was stopped he told the COM
mittee the incident occurred
aboard a Pennsylvania Railroad
train and that Mr.. Eberharter had
attempted to pick fights. espe-
clally with men in uniform"
Senator ,1cCarran said this
testimony should be first-hand
and said he would issue subpoen~
later for a railroad conduct
three railroad police and the Ne
ark station master, all of who
were said by Mr.. Bentley to b,
acquainted with the case.