Evening star., 1926-11-16
VOICES IN ALLEY
BEFORE SCR|VENER
CAME, WOMAN SAYS
Heard Detective Arrive, Talk
Stop. and Then a Shot,
Mrs. Stauff Asserts.
INDIRECT TESTIMONY
BARRED FROM INQUEST
Statement of Inmate Of Home for
Aged Follows Evidence in
Support of Suicide.


The long postponed inquest into 9se
death of Detective Sergt. Arthur q
Scrivener on the morning of Octooer
13 opened before a crowded and cuff
Gus audience in the board room of
the District Building this morning.
and after witnesses had testified to
facts which went little toward throw
ing further light on the mystery, the
inquest was adjourned until tonor-
row at II o'clock.
Technical evidence showing the now
we'll known facts relating to the
position of the body, the bullet wound.
the powder marks on the overcoat,
the history of a pistol which had been
given to Scrivener by a brother de-
tective, discovery of cartridges in his
locker. etc, all supported the theory
of suicide. which previously has been
advanced.
But when Mrs. Annie Stauff, feeble
inmate of a home for aged women
near Wisconsin avenue and n street.
took the stand she testified that she
heard voices in the alley before the
arrival Of Scrivener's automobile OH
the morning of October IS.
Shot Follows Voices.
Then. she said, in a voice so low
that the jurors had to crowd around
her to hear, she had heard Scrivener
put his car away and start down the
alley from the garage. The voices
stopped, and the next she heard was
a shot.
II didn't know they had killed the
poor man." she said
Mrs. Stauffs testimony interrupted
the testimony of Detective Edward j.
Kelly. who had been telling the his.
tory of the case as he found 1t from
his Investigations
When Kelly first started to testify,
Coroner hewitt sustained an objection
which prevented Kelly from quoting
directly the words of those whom he
had interviewed. Such quotations, 1t
was decided would be hear-say and ir
relevant evidence and should come
directly from those who are to be
called later as witnesses.
The objections came from Assistant
United States District Attorney George
d. Horning, jr.
After Kelly had described the scene
in the alley where Scrivener's body
was found and was about to narrate
the course which his investigation of
the case took. Mr.. Horning arose and
specifically noted an objection to his
proceeding further on the ground that
his testimony would be irrelevant and
immaterial, since the best evidence
should come from those who gave the
original facts to Kelly.
Coroner hewitt replied that the Jury
could presume that Detective Kelly
had made an investigation, and told
the witness that a description Of that
investigation would be allowed, in so
far as the discovery Of facts were con-
cerned. but that he could not quote
others.
Seeks to Bar Hearsay.
Apparently Mr.. Horning is trying
to cut Mr.. kelly's testimony off. in
terjected Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Ringgold Hart.
I'm here to cooperate as the rep
resentative Of the District govern
ment, and I submit Mr.. Kelly should
be allowed to testify. inasmuch as he
has important facts in his possession.
particularly regarding the pistol. 1
think also. though, that he should
confine his testimony to facts
Mr.. Horning thereupon stated that
his objection was aimed at eliminating
hearsay testimony.
II submit" said Mr.. Horning. that
anything he did or saw is admissible,
but not conversations"
We don't want conversations,
snapped back Hart.
Kelly then identified the pistol and
at the suggestion of Coroner hewitt
related part of it's history While
starting to tell how pistol similar to
this vas given Scrivener by Detective
Darnell, Kelly mentioned that Darnell
said:
II object" broke in Mr.. Horning.
A series of three objections were
lodged by Mr.. Horning to statements
as to what Darnell told Kelly. one be-
ing made each time Kelly attempted
to quote Darnell.
Apparent Scuffie Reported.
Coroner hewitt opened the inquest
by the usual routine reading OF the
police incidental giving the salient
facts concerning the Scrivener death.
This report, which was made by Pvt.
Alvin S. Bohrer Of the seventh pre-
cinct, who found the body, said that
"Scrivener had apparently grappled
with an assailant." The incidental
also said that Scrivener held in his
right hand a tie which he had ap-
parently torn from some ones neck.
Immediately after Morgue Master
Schoenberger had summoned the jury
to take their seats he demanded that
all the witnesses leave the room at
once. Nearly 80 persons in various
parts Of the boardroom rose from
the crowd Of $50 and filed into the
hallway Mr.. Schoenberger then COM
manded police officers to shut the
doors.
Members Of the coroner's jury who
are serving on the case follow: James
s. Davidson. Arthur r. Gooding. Earl
F.. Holmes, Samuel Darragh. Ernest
r. Post and William H. Boaze.
Fiancee Arrives Early.
Miss Helen Barnes Parker of Nc
Lean, Va, the girl Scrivener was TO
have married the day he was killed,
was one Of the earliest arrivals, attired
In a brown velvet turban and wine
colored coat trimmed in gray squirrel.
She entered at 1890 with Detective
Thomas Nally and sat alone awaiting
the start Of the inquest into the death
Of her fiance.
Miss Katherine Markey, a nurse,
the girl who broke a prior engage.
ment to marry Scrivener. sat on the
opposite side Of the room from Miss
Parker until they were both sent to
the hallway pending their time to tes.
tify. Miss Markey wore a gray hat
with q gold band. q blue coat with q
dark gray fur collar and an orange