Evening star., 1962-05-15
ESTES
ESTES
White House Silence
Cited by Republicans

Continued From Page AL
other investigators trying to
spade up evidence in Texas on
Mr.. Estes wheeling and deal
ing and any profitable connee- Z
tions he may have had with
Government officials. ~
Strange Silence Cited
Meanwhile, Republicans in the
Senate and House yesterday
peppered the Agriculture De-
partment and its chief with
more stinging words.
Senator Allott, Republican of
Colorado, called for Mr.. Free
mans resignation in a Senate
speech. Senator Allott also said
the White House has main-
tanned q strange silence" about
alleged influence deals linking
Estes with Agriculture De-
partment officials.
He and Senator Williams,
Republican Of Delaware
charged that possibly criminal
reprisal has been taken against
people at the Agriculture De-
partment who wanted to dis
close or investigate facts about
Estes deals.
Senator Allott contended
that the Secretary's actions in
the case have resulted in the
coming Of the word FREEMAN
ped" to mean "white-washed
er CLOSED over" He said tne
agency is too important to be
stainted and sullied2
Senator Williams said a
Woman secretary in the De-
partment had been "rail-
toaded" into a mental institu-
Ton here for refusing to CO.
operate in covering up corrup-
1on" in the. department. Mr..
Freeman's office promptly is-
Sued a statement disputing this
and said the Department re-
gretted that the medical prob
lens of an employe have been
made into a political contro-
RerSy.
Doctor Unavailable
Senator Allott said the worn-
sn, Miss Mary Kimbrough
Zones, 81, was dragged off
screaming" and held IL days at
an institution. then found to
be mentally sound.
He and Senator Williams
both questioned whether law
had been violated because, they
said, she had no chance to talk
to her own doctor or lawyer,
there was no reason to believe
she might need mental care
and she was found to be sane.
Senator Williams said DR..
Lee K. Buchanan, the Agricul-
ture Department doctor who
sent her to the institution, has
not been available since.
Representative Dole, Repub-
lican Of Kansas, suggested an
investigation Of the Jones case
by the House Judiciary and
District of Columbia COM
mjttees. h
Mr.. Dole wrote the chair
men Of the committees that it
appeared ''her rights were
abused" and that either the
District Code was not followed
: (in her comnitment) or 1t is
50. loosely drawn as to need
sharp revision. :"
1.-THE confinement Of Miss
Jones for IS days without a
hearing; the fact those re-
sponsible for initiating COM
nlgtment proceedings did not
appear at the hearing the fact
that she was apparently in
normal mental condition all
times prior to her commit,
rient i. certainly raise many
reasonable uestions," Mr.. Dole
said.
The Agriculture Department
said in its statement:
1.-THE woman, Mary K. Jones,
wss taken to District General
Hospital on April Is on the
advice Of two physicians. One
was her own personal physician,
ard the other was the doctor
assigned to the department.
The departments physician
accompanied her to the hos
pitaI."
Later the department added
this to the statement:
The departments doctor
acted only after consulting with
her personal physician and only
on his instructions. The
psychiatric test at District
General Hospital concurred
that she needed immediate
disqualification.
"She was under the care of
the psychiatric staff at the
hospital until she was released
to the custody of her own
family with the understanding
she should receive further
treatment.
In view Of the woman,s
condition. the department feels
it should not discuss the case.
4