The Washington herald., 1920-09-15
Grand Jury Decides Evii-
dence insufficient to Hold
Drowned Woman S Spouse.
BREAKS OUT OF CELL
Prisoner Uses Spoon to Pry
Off Panel from
Door.

Roy Harper Kuehling, husband Of
Mrs Gertrude Vigor Kuehling, who
met her death in the waters of the
Potomac last Wednesday under cir
cumstances which the police be-
lieve both mysterious and suspi-
cious. was exonerated of all respon-
sibility. in connection with his wife's
death by the grand jury yesterday
after a five hour period of investi-
gatic~
Immediately afterward Assistant
District Attorney James 3. Archer.
who presented the case, telephoned
Major Gessford. superintendent Of
police, of the result of the investi-
cation and authorized KuehlinCs 8
release from custody.
No Legal Evidence.
There was no legal evidence on
which the grand jury could hold
Kuehling." Archer stated. "Conse-
quentIy," he said, "it did the only
thing it could do and that was to
, ignore the suspicion of murder or
foul play
On the suggestion of Edmund
Darlington, counsel for Kuehling.
who insisted that his client be re-
leased on bail, 1 agreed to present
the case to the grand jury immedi
ately, and let them decide whether
or not it would be necessary for
kuehling to furnish bail.
IF anything turns up later"
Archer stated. "on which Kuehling
could be held it viii be an easy
matter to rearrest and indict him.
Until that time we are through
LnndIady Helps.
All of the witnesses who testified
at the coroner's inquest Monday
were summoned and appeared be-
fore the grand jury. On behalf Of
kuehling. his counsel presented
Mrs. D. l. Appleby and her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Constance Ely, both of
Silver Spring, Nd, as witnesses for
Kuehling.
The 6uehHngs boarded at Mr.
Appleby's home for some time be
fore the death of Mrs. KuehIing,
and II IS believed that their testI-
mony went far to effect the release
Of kuehling.
Ignore Alleged Escape Try.
kuehIinE's alleged attempt to es-
cape from a cell at the Fourth Pre-
cinct. it was learned. did not figure
in the investigation, as the grand
jury was interested solely in Mrs.
kuehling's death.
Assistant District Attorney Archer
refused 10 comment on this feature
of the case. As far as could be
learned none of the grand jurors
were aware of the alleged attempt
until after they had ordered kuehl-
ing's release.
As at the inquest. Mrs. FelicIa
Ryan, sister of Mrs. kuehling: Miss
Lulu X. Gamer On, and Frederick
Dec. Faust. ? Washington attor-
ney, were the principal witnesses
to be examined yesterday by the
grand jury.
Divorced Husband Testi6ex.
DR.. Charles F. Whitney, with
whom the Kuehlings recently lived,
was also 4 witness. as was Alvin
= Hines, one of the men who
answered KUehling's cries for help
when the canoe capsized. Detective
Edward Kelly and Policeman Car
roll, of the Seventh precinct: How
ard B. Osgood. divorced husband
Of the dead woman, and Dr. Fred
erick N. Nolan were also called as
wltuesses.
Early yesterday morning kuehling
waS discovered outside the room in
which he had been detained at the
Tenth precinct. With a spoon taken
from his meal tray he pried off one
of the lower panels of the door and
when found was crawling through
the opening.
Kuehling explained his action as
due TO nervousness. Benjamin
Kuehling. policeman of the Seventh
precinct. went to his brother as soon
as he heard of the attempted es-
cape.
Calls Ii "Freak Notion
My brother could not explain his
action. but I know that he has been
under terrific strain these past few
days, and I honestly believe it was
only a freak notion which came to
him as the result of nerves. If he
had escaped would have imme-
uAdlVIN Idlltu inspector NTant ana
asked to be put on the case. and I
would have brought him back in a
rush. If I had the slightest doubt
that Mrs. Kuehling's death was not
an accident I would not have stood
by my brother
Euchling is now with his mother
and sister at S14 Ninth street north
east