MAKER OF “NEWS”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12905, 4 July 1936, Page 9

MAKER OF “NEWS”

“SEATTLE’S SCUFFLER.”

THE ERRATIC AiR ZIONCILECK. I 'TER, Air Alarum Zionelieek, a Democratic member of the American House of Representatives for the State ol Washington, had jierfornu-d a series of erratic acts in Washington ■the police obtained a medical certificate and then charged him with lunacy. The astonishing career of this remarkable man is recorded amusingly in a recent issue of “Time.” an American weekly magazine . After applying tlx- term “Seatlie’s Seiiffler” to Air Zionelieek. the article says:— Born in Bohemia. years ago. Marion Anthony Ziouehork was brought to Seattle as a child and grew up to be a fish pedlar. He wen! to the 1 Diversity at Washington Law School, got himself defied president of tho student body, behaved so obstreperously that fellow students clipped his pate, and dumped him in bake Washington. .Marion Zionelie -k began lus legal career by being liie-d 2o dollars for contempt of court alter calling a witness a “s.-ab.” Later lie most successfully defended his mother on kidnapping charges, in 19.’!2 Lawyer 'Zionelieek persuad'd the Democratic voters of Washington’s First Congressional District to send him to Washington. He piled up such a record of outlandish lu-ha-vionr both on and off ihe House floor that even Congressmen who like little eccentricity to liven tho legislative atmosphere had begun to regard him as the Capitol's No. ]. orohlem child. A Telephone Prank. '! bis strange young man first di~tlngnished himself from ids -bit colli agues on the tail end of last New Year’s Eve. Entering a Washington apartment house, he shouldered the negro switchboard operator a'-idc. merrily plugged in every telephone :u tin, building. Four husky polieemcen testified in eourf that Representative Zionelieek was so drunk that they hail to support him when they remo- \ <-d him Irom the building. Como - led of drunken and disorderly conduct. lie took a cony oi the court proceedings to the (louse, asked unanimous consent to have them printed -] t til-.' ( ougressionai “Record.” ’ I think.” declared the indignant gentleman Irom Washington, “you members ol the lloie-e should know wh :f is going on.” In February Representative Zimichcck shocked colleagues bv asserting in the House that United States Supreme- Court justices were niostiy “minions of wealth.” that lour or five of them were “old fossils.” Next, day he made iu-ws again when Texas" blatant, Blanton called his arguments “asinine.'' and he stopped House proceedings to ask Speaker Byrnes: “What does ■asinine' mean? J forget." Lust month Marion Zionelieek fdmost started a list light on the Lions' floor when he.clashed again with Representative Blanton. “The gentleman from Texas once said I was doped.” he roared. “And I shall put it into the record lhai the gentleman from Texas is a sen of a Texan. On second thought I’ll r. vise my remark and leave a blank for tho. filial

word.” Representative Blanton charged at linn, was subdued by colleagues. Few days later the. representative from Washington took up his fond once morel This time tin* House soundlv rebuked him by voting 27 1 to nil to expunge his remarks from the record.

Short time ago this high-spirited young Congressman bought himselt ;i new Packard roadster, proceeded to make Washington streets unsafe tor pedestrians by speeding, roaring pa-t i rnflio lights, driving on the lelt. Early one morning police spied him whizzing out Connecticut avenue at 70 m.p.h., gave chase, caught him when lie was forced to slow down lor a truck. At the police' station Representative Zioneheek posted 2-~> dol : collateral. He later denied to reporters that he had been arrested, next day was “not in” at either borne or office. Then, when he I ailed to appear in court to answer the speeding charge, Judge AA’alter J. Casey promptly issued an order tor his arrest. In the House Office building the Washington represent.-! t ivo gabbled t., reporters about Congressional immunity. snorted that Judge Casey could “go to bell.” When a police sergeant appeared to arrest him he lie told the officer that, his writ could not. he served on Federal property. Thou Zioneheek abruptly changed Ids mind, got in his roadster with- the sergeant, whizzed away toward court. After a few blocks Representative Zioneheek swung his car around without warning, roared back to the House Office Building, leaped out. ran up the steps. The sergeant gave chase, begged him to “act like a gentleman.” Before Judge Casey. “Take off your glasses and draw your gun,”' cried Marion Zioneheek. In the ensuing sculllo the sergeant suffered a sprained finger, facial bruises. Capitol police joined the fray, helped hustle Representative Zioncheck into the guardroom. Swearing he would sue the Police Department for false arrest, he finally agreed to go to court. With the court-room jammed. Representative Zioneheek. acting as ins own attorney, pleaded guilty to the speeding charge, but insisted that lichad not been properly notified when or where to appear for trial.

Judge Casey withdrew to his chambers to consider this contention'. “Just a minute.” Zioneheek yelped. “What about, my ease?” | “Tint court is recessing.” said Judge Casey. “Em taking a recess, too,” shouted Zioneheek. breaking for the door. Policemen collared him. threw him into tho pen. Judge. Casey, reappearing. slapped on fines of 2d dollars for speeding. 20 dollars for eontemor. of court. For two hours Representative Zioneheek posed for photogiaphers, making faces, clambering up tho bars, poking out bis hat to beg money for his fines. Loudly .• o declared that he would not pay a cent. Loudly ho demanded that Speaker Byrnes get- him out of gaol on grounds of Congressional immunity. At. the Capitol Democratic leaders put their heads together, quickly decided that fighting with policemen, speeding, and contempt of court constituted a. breach of the peace—one constitutional ground for a Congressman’s arrest. After much argument behind closed doors. Rules Committee Chairman John J. O’Connor was told off to go and pay the fines, i Out (he court building’s hack door soon slipped the two Congressmen. To newshawks Representative Zionc-heek announced that he was going hack to , Ills apartment to look after his four pet terrapins. Representative O’Cons | nor suggested that he might do bet\ I ter to consult a psychiatrist.