Evening star., 1951-03-02

JAILED IN BANK HOLDUP-Fi
two hours of questioning vest
and effort in bringing about fair
and honorable solutions of the
problems of many who were in
need of help. He has served in
many varied types of Government
service, civil and military. ano
always has distinguished himself
through his conduct and actions
He commands the respect anG
admiration of all those who have
been actively associated with
him."
Tells of Urging Change.
Mr.. Donohue testified that ir
the past he had urged a change
in liquor regulations to raise
from 400 feet to 600 feet the dis
tance from churches, schools and
libraries where the granting OF
Liquor licenses would be prohi-
lbited.
AS member of the Board OF
Commissioners. he said he would
favor such a change.
Senator Welker asked him II
he had had any association as a
lawyer with Sam Beard, one-time
gambling kingpin here. MIR. Dono-
hue said there had been one case
in which he aided in the drafting
of conditional sales contract.
Senator Welker asked if Mr.. Don
ohue had known Beard "as being
involved in the gambling racket"
Never Represented Gambler.
Mr.. Donohue said that he did
not and added, II have never
represented a gambler"
At the outset, Mr.. Donohue said
his position as lawyer for liquor
clients might best be made known
by some of the things he had
written for the Beverage Bulletin,
trade pamphlet formerly pub
lished by Milton S. Kronheim and
Son, Inc.
He read excerpts to show he had
said liquor and it's use had "in-
herently dangerous potentialities'
and, therefore, there was ready
acceptance on the part of the liq-
uor industry of restrictions on
the liquor business.
| In another excerpt he said the
liquor business required maxi
mum regulation" and the strictest
kind of enforcement.
Favored Restrictions.
Chairman Nicely asked him II
he thought that way today and
the witness said he did.
The witness read other excerpts
from his Beverage Bulletin COL
umn to show he had advocated re-
strictions on the use of liquor
signs, credit and hours of sale, and
that he had urged moderation"
in the use of alcoholic beverages.
The question was raised by Sen
ator Welker as to whether Mr..
Donohue thought he should dis
associate himself as a Commits
sioner from acting on liquor Ii
cense revocation or suspensions
where the party involved was one
of his former clients.
Senator Welker likened this to
the act of a judge who disqualifies
himself from sitting on case
where previously, as lawyer, he
had represented a party to the
case.
Mr.. Donohue took the position
that this would be mater of con-
science. The point was cleared up
later by questions from Senator
Smith, Democrat, of North Caro-
lima, and Senator Johnston, DEM
ocrat. of South Carolina. They
made a distinction between the
case of judge who would sit in
a trial involving a former client
in other cases but not in the one
before the court.
Puts Duty First.
They suggested this was differ
ent from an instance where a
judge would disqualify himself
from trying a case in which he
had previously served as counsel
to the accused in the same case
as then before the court.
Senator Welker wanted to know
if Mr.. Donohue would not be in a
rather embarrassed position" as
Commissioner if he had to con-
slider the revocation or suspension
OF a liquor licensee whom he had
formerly represented. ...
mo, sir" Mr.. Donohue replied.
"It would grieve me to have to
affirm the revocation of the license
of former client, but duty is duty
and I would put duty before any
sympathy for former client"
Mr.. Donohue further explained
his absence of concern over sit
ting as a Commissioner on a
liquor license case by reminding
the committee that all liquor Ii
censes here expire January 81 of
each year. He said there we're no
outstanding licenses in which he
had served as counsel for the
applicant.
Strong Endorsements of Mr..
Donohue were voiced by 10 v.
Morgan, president of the District
Bar Association, and Roland
Jones, president of the American
Retail Federation. Mr.. Morgan
characterized Mr.. Donohue as a
very excellent lawyer" and added,
IT know of nothing he has ever
0ssnx,&..I cream