Evening star., 1954-12-09
Delay Likely
On S1onick' S
License Plea
Piano DeuIer
Gets Month to
Prepare Brief
By John w. Stepp


will not be handed down before
February.
This was indicated by Charles
w. Hart, hearing examiner o1
the Board Of Appeals and Review
of the District Licenses and In
spections Department, by his &C.
tion in tentatively granting Mr.
Shonick's request for a months
time in which to file a written
brief In the case.
A hearing was held yesterday
by Mr.. Hart to determine validity
of the District license Offices re-
fusal to renew the piano dealers
license for 1854. The principal
basis for the refusal was his
claiming the Fifth Amendment
privilege against self -incrimina-
ton when asked last July by the
House Un-American Activities
Committee about his alleged
Communist activities.
Pertinence Disputed.
David Rein. Mr.. Shonick's at
torney, asked for the time-lag
to go into detail on his conten-
ton that political ideologies"
and the claim of the Fifth
Amendment have no bearing on
an applicants fitness for holding
q secondhand dealers license.
Both the lawyer and his client
made this claim repeatedly dur
ing the hearing. The question
of Communist activities and Mr..
Shonick's testimony before the
congressional subcommittee was
irrelevant" in connection with
the dealers good moral char
acter" for the used-piano trade.
they declared in warding of
Examiner Hart's interrogation.
Mr.. Hart tried to pin down
Mr.. Shonick on parts of his tes-
timony before the July session
Of the subcommittee.
He asked whether the piano
dealer wanted to clarity his
statement, voiced last July, to
the effect that the activities of
the subcommittee might be more
subversive than those of the
Communist Party.
Nothing to Clarity"
"No. / don't think there's any
thing to Clarity" Mr.. Shonick
responded. TITS all in the tram
script" He then referred to the
report by the metropolitan po-
lice special investigations squad
which cited this testimony in
recommending denial of the re-
newal application.
Aside from being "quite in
accurate" in its characterization
of his testimony before the sub
committee, Mr.. Shonick said: II
don't see any point in my ex-
panding on it since it is
irrelevant"
Mr.. Hart then said that, since
the ultimate basis" of the un-
favorable police report was that
Mr.. Shonick was affiliated with
the Communist Party the Dis
trict was entitled to know
whether the dealer is a member
of the party. He popped the
direct question.
To which Mr.. Shonick's attor-
ney interjected: II don't see why
he should be called upon to
answer. There has been no
testimony that he is"
No Oath Law for Job.
Mr.. Rein went on that his
client was not bound to answer
because Congress has passed no
law requiring non-subversion
oaths by applicants for second
hand dealer licenses here.
The piano dealer, who recently
moved his shop from 3l7 Cedar
street NV. around the corner
to 69l2 Fourth street NV. also
claimed irrelevance in refusing
to answer to charges of question
able activities. These were made
by Detective Sergt. Joe Y. Chen
nault. Special Investigations
Squad officer, who made the in
vestigation and report on Mr..
Shonick.
Sergt. Chennault listed three
functions. which. he said. he saw
MIR. Shonick attend. One was q
public rally of the United Negro
and Allied Veterans Of America.
at which Paul Robson. the left
wing singer, appeared In Turner's
Arena in l949. Another was q
public mseting in 1851 Of the
Washington Committee to De-
fend the Bill of Rights. The |
third was a private party. which
police raided on the strength
that liquor was sold without a
license. held In the 900 block of |
Fourth street NE. two years ago
to raise funds for the defense of |
q woman later convicted OF per-
juring herself in signing q loyalty
pledge.
Attendance OF these meetings,
Mr.. Hart said. related to the
question Of Mr.. Shonick's moral |
character to have q dealers |
license.
II must insist that you an
swer.. he told the witness.
''I must abide by my earlier |
decision not to answer because Of |
irrelevancy." Mr.. Shonick re-
eponded.
Testimony Attacked.
Earlier In the hearing. Attor- |
ney Rein attacked Sergt. Chena
nault's testimony that he rec |
commended denial of the license
application partly because Of the
by Mrs. Mary Stalcup /
MarkWard, former FBI under |
cover agent, before the House
subcommittee that Mr.. Shonick |
and his wife, Helen. held high T
position In the Communist un-
derground in the District. /
THE sergeant's testimony Is
hearsay on hearsay and is in
.su..A..nsa.a. n 49,. r. ....a,a.a 1SnnNa.an.l