The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-20
MAY CLEAR
MYSTERY
SOON
inmate of Maryland Prison
Lived Near Oil Man at
Time of Murder.

Information indicating that Err
nest Duplisis, alias Ernest Perry,
inmate of the House of Correc-
ton at Jessup, Md, was connect
ed with or knows the circum-
stances surrounding the mystic
rious murder in August, 1922, of
Barney A. Mcbride, wealthy Okla
homa oil magnate, is in the hands
OF Headquarters Detectives Ar
thur Scrivener and Edward Kelly.
Lived Near Mcbride Here.
Under a grilling in the Maryland
reformatory for several hours yes
terday, Duplisis admitted to Scriv-
ener and Kelly that at the time of
McBride's death he was living at
the Lochraven Hotel, 222 Third
street northwest, few doors from
the rooming house in which Nc
Bride was living a few hours before
he was slain.
Duplisis, the detectives have
learned, knew Mcbride and was
acquainted with the fact that the
oil man always carried large sums
OF money on his person. The Mary
land prisoner. however, has fur
nished an alibi as to his where
abouts at the time Of McBride's
death. The detectives are now
verifying his story.
When Scrivener and Kelly inter
viewed Duplisis he vigorously
denied knowing Mcbride or know
ing anything about his death.
Questioning revealed first that the
mans name was not Perry but
Duplisis. The prisoner further ad-
mitted that he has served many
terms in reformatories and owned
up to an extensive criminal career.
Quarreled With Pal.
1t was from James J. Forsythe,
arrested with Perry, or Duplisis,
for stealing baggage in Baltimore,
that police first obtained informa-
ton which led them to question
Duplisis. Forsythe is alleged to
have given police information which
led to Duplisis' arrest last year for
stealing baggage. When the two
prisoners were confronted at the
time of their arrest, Duplisis is
alleged to have called Forsythe a
"rat". for ''pimping on me-" For
sythe is said to have replied to
these allegations that he wasn't a
pimp because he hadn't told any
thing about that killing in Wash.
ington several years ago.
Duplissis finally admitted yester-
day that he was in Washington at
the time of McBride's death. Fur
Their questioning revealed he lived
at the Lochraven Hotel. Suisse
quent investigation has brought out
the fact that several days before
McBride's death Duplisis talked
with Mrs. Mary Cone, owner Of the
Third street rooming house in
which Mcbride lived. During this
conversation Duplisis asked the
woman many questions about Nc
Bride.
Shortly before his arrest, it was
also learned, Duplisis visited Mrs.
Cones home and had q girl with
him. He sought a room for the
girl. Mrs. Cone would not allow
the girl to have a room and as
Duplisis left the house he is said
to have told his companions: This
is the house in which the man who
was murdered couple of years
ago lived"
Admits Dope Peddling
Duplisis was well known in the
neighborhood of Third and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. While living at the
Lockraven he acted as chauffeur
for a man in the neighborhood. He
admitted to the detectives yesterday
that he has peddled dope in Wash
ington.
''Where were you on the night
before Mcbride was killed." Du-
plisis was asked yesterday.
"Oh, I've got an alibi," was his
reply. "As soon as 1 read in the
papers about this murder 1 thought
they might suspect me so I pre-
pared my alibi. On that night I
was at a dance at a hotel near
Third and Pennsylvania avenue and
I can prove it,"
Detectives Scrivener and Kellv
declared today this alibi would not
hold because this particular dance
was over at IL o'clock on that
night. Mcbride is believed to nave
been killed at o'clock in the morn
ing. His body was found about
noon the next day in a culvert on
@ road near Meadows, Nd, about
eight miles from Washington, The
mans head had been battered in.
his neck covered with knife wounds
and his wrists severely cut. It was
one of the most brutal murders I'm
the history OF Maryland. Police
believe ne was killed in Washington
and his body carried into Maryla MI.
She detectives today are inter