Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-11

The committee convened at
the Court House in Arlington
County on September 10, 1857,
for the purpose Of questioning
some of the plaintiffs in the
Indignation suit broug h t
against the County School
Board of Arlington County, as
we'll as for the purpose of ques-
tioning certain other parties
and examining certain docu-
mentary evidence with respect
to indignation suits in the
Tenth District. On September
10, 1857, six witnesses were
called and questioned. and a
number Of checks and other
exhibits were introduced into
evidence. Among those ex-
amined that day: were Edwin
c. Brown, Regional Counsel for
the NAACP: Mrs. Geraldine
Davis, a white woman who ac-
companied several Negro chill
dren to q white Junior High
School at the opening of the
present school term; Jack c.
Orndorff, who was an original
plaintiff in this suit, but who
later Withdrew: and three Of
ficials of the local Branch OF
the NAACP.
The committee was aware OF
the fact that other attorneys
had been paid for their services
by the NAACP or the NAACr
Legal Defense and Educational
Fund, Inc. In view Of Mr.
Browns contention that he had
received no fees for his services
in connection with this suit, he
was asked to produce his fin
ancial records, which he re-
fused to do. An order was OBJ
tanned from the Circuit Court
OF Arlington County requiring
the production Of such records
and some subsequently were
produced to the committee and
committee counsel. He main
tanned that he did not have a
fee book for the period in ques-
ton, but did make available
certain other records.
An examination Of the rec
ords produced did not show
any fees as having been re-
ceived by Mr.. Brown from any
source for his services in con-
nection with this suit. He was
subsequently called to a COM
mittee hearing in Alexandria
on August %, 1857. at which
time he reaffirmed his previous
statement and assured the
committee that he had pro-
duced all Of the financial
records in his possession fol-
the period of time in question
Woman a NAACP Officer
Mrs. Geraldine Davis, who
sought to enroll several Negro
children in an all white school
is the treasurer of the Local
branch of the NAACP, and has
been active in that organiza-
ton for several years, although
she is not a plaintiff In the
indignation suit.
Mr.. Orndorff gave as his
reason for withdrawing from
the suit the fact that he ano
his family had received nu-
merous anonymous telephone
calls Of a threatening nature
with regard to his participa-
ton In the suit. The Other
witnesses called on this day
we're definitely in favor of in
tegration and appeared to OF
volunteers in the matter.
The Arlington hearing was
continued on September 20
1857, at which time nine othel
witnesses were questioned will
regard to their participation il
the Arlington County suit. a
well as the suit brought b,
Mrs. Theo T. DeFabio agains
the school officials of Fairfa,
County, and other matters re
lated to the institution OF racia
litigation in the Tenth District
Albert I. Kassabian and G.
Douglas Adams. jr.. attorney
for Mrs. Thee T. DeFabio, OBJ
jecCed very strenuously t
testifying before the commit
tee. They and their client di'
testify that no organization
was responsible for the insti
tuition of the suit by Mrs. De
Fabio, nor was any organiza
ton financing this suit, whicl
seeks to test the legality Of tn
Pupil Placement Act.
COnstitutiOnality Challenged
One David H. Scull, of An
Mandate. Va, was called as
witness before the committe
because the committee had re
ceived information which in
dictated that Mr. Scull wa
connected with numerous or
ganizations which have bee
active in promoting racial liti
CATION in this State. Mr. Sou
appeared with Joseph Fanell
an attorney from the DistriC
of Columbia, and after answer
ing formal questions as to hi
name, address. and occupation
presented to the committee
written statement of his rea
sons for refusing to testify. l
which he challenged the cor
stitutionality Of the act an
The jurisdiction Of the com
mittee.
He based his refusal to test
fy ION the basis Of all tn
rights accorded me under Sec
lions 8. IL. and IL Of the Cor
stitution Of the Commonwealth
Of Virginia and the correlatiN
provisions of the FEEDERS
Constitution"
On the basis of the aboN
statement. the witness refuse
TO answer any further question
put to him by the committe
including his connections wit
number Of organizations.
whether a postofiice box liste