THE CONGRESS: Investigation by Headlines

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On his head a straw hat, on his arm a stick, in his breast pocket a handkerchief, at his throat a red cravat with large white polka dots, the chief police officer of the U. S. Senate last week set out upon a manhunt. Last year Sergeant-at-Arms Chesley W. Jurney tracked down through a fairyland of misadventures Lawyer-Lobbyist William P. MacCracken, one-time Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, helped to have him jailed for ten days for contempt of the Senate (TIME, Feb. 12, 1934, et seq.). Now Sleuth Jurney, on behalf of his Senatorial masters, was out to hijack a prize utility lobby witness captured by rival House investigators. Flanked by two deputies, Sergeant Jurney plunked himself in the rear seat of an official Senate limousine. Three newshawks scrambled in with them. Behind, in a dozen other cars and taxicabs, came more newshawks and photographers. The chase was on, the chase for elusive Howard Colwell ("Pimpernel") Hopson, roly-poly boss of the much besooted Associated Gas & Electric System.

Surprise Ending. First visit of Sergeant Jurney and his entourage was to the Mayflower Hotel suite of Hopson Lawyer William A. Hill. There was no answer to their knock and the manager opened the room to prove it empty. As they left the hotel a newshawk spotted Mr. Hill telephoning in a booth. In full cry the pack swept across the lobby, carrying curious bystanders with them. The embarrassed lawyer retreated into the bar, where he accepted a contempt citation from Mr. Jurney, said he did not know where his client was but when they met would tell him that the Senate of the U. S. wanted him.

Next Sergeant Jurney drove across the Potomac River to Alexandria, Va. to ask whether Mr. Hopson was staying at a small hotel there. He was not. Thereupon Sleuth Jurney good-naturedly treated his camp followers to beer and a fish supper, at a cost of $16 borrowed from a deputy on the understanding that it would be charged to their expense account.

Sergeant Jurney decided to beat one more covert before quitting for the day. The motorcade drove back to Washington to the Hotel Shoreham to ask Bernard B. Robinson, Hopson's "Washington representative", whether he knew where his boss was. At the desk of the Shoreham whom should Mr. Jurney bump into but beefy, bad-tempered Chairman John J. O'Connor of the House Rules Committee, who captured "Pimpernel" Hopson fortnight ago.

"Can you tell me where Hopson is?" asked the Senate's agent amiably.

"You're wasting your time," snarled Representative O'Connor. "Hopson is in my custody and I wouldn't turn him over to you under any consideration."

Sergeant Jurney and his party felt they were getting hot, rode up to the eighth floor and went to Mr. Robinson's room.

Sounds of gaiety and merriment came through the door. Sergeant Jurney knocked. Mr. Robinson opened the door, hastily popped out and shut the party in behind him.

"Is Mr. Hopson in there?" inquired Sergeant Jurney.

"I haven't heard from him since a week ago Monday."

Sergeant Jurney looked suspiciously at the door.