Evening star., 1926-11-17
Requires But 10 Minutes to
Reach Decision on Mys-
terry of Detectives Death
One Month Ago.
POLICE SUICIDE THEORY
IS UPSET BY EVIDENCE
Acquaintance Hold He Appeared
Nervous Just Prior to Staying;
Former Fiancee Says He Told
Her Anything Might Happen"
Before Wedding.

"Mitt" Scrivener was murdered.
After 10 minutes deliberation this
afternoon, a month and four days
after the body of Detective Sergt.
Arthur B. Scrivener was found in an
alley, a coroner's Jury returned
verdict that he came to his death,
about l o'clock on October 13, at the
mouth of an alley alongside of 1928
N street, from a gunshot wound of
the heart due to a bullet fired from
a pistol held in the hand or hands of
persons other than himself, unknown
to the jury"
The verdict was reached at the
end of the second days session of
the coroner's jury.
These sessions were marked by con-
flicting opinions held by the Police De-
partment and other agencies of the
local government.
Horning Blocked Evidence.
The police had expected to present
facts to the jury in a summarized
investigated the case, showing that
Scrivener's conduct and actions i'm
mediately before the day of his death
opened the possibility of a suicide.
When Kelly started his summary
yesterday an objection was lodged by
Assistant District Attorney George d.
Horning, jr, with the result that no
general summary of the full investi-
CATION of the case ever reached the
coroner's jury, but orfly d8jointed
testimony coming from individual wit
nesses, all bearing upon Scrivener's
actions.
The fury retired at 1907 o'clock to
discuss the evidence and notified Cor
toner hewitt 10 minutes later that they
had reached q decision.
Conference Delays Hearing.
Today's session was held up by a
proposal to introduce testimony from
q prisoner at the District Jail. Henry
Moore, bearing upon the Identification
Of the death pistol.
|. This proposal resulted in a confer
ence. which delayed matters for the
greater part of an hour, at the end
of which time, reserving his decision
Coroner Nevitt opened the last ses-
sion of the inquest.
Just before the jury retired he de-
cided against receiving the testimony
of Moore. Detective Sergt. Kelly
was the last witness to take the stand.
Just prior to his appearance another
long conference was held by Coroner
hewitt with the attorneys and with
Inspector Pratt.
Coroner Nevitt asked Kelly TO tell
of his investigation of the statement
that Scrivener is said to have made
to Miss Parker that he had made
plans for them to live at the Hotel
Martinique after they were married.
Kelly said. II investigated the state
ment from two angles and found that
Scrivener never negotiated for accom-
modations at the Hotel Martinique.
Before Kelly testified Detective Oar
nell took the stand and made it clear
in the Jurors minds that he could not
positively identify the gun found by
ScriVener as the one he had given
Scrivener some time before.
Just before the inquest was ordered
closed by Coroner hewitt two ques-
tions were asked of Detective Kelly
by jurors regarding the bullets which
were found in Scrivener's locker and
were said to be identical with the one
found in the revolver.
The crowd of spectators gathered in
the hall appeared surprised at the
suddenness of the jurys action when
the police guards summoned Coroner
hewitt and told him that a verdict
had been reached.
1t was at least IS minutes after
Coroner hewitt went into the board
| room at the request Of the jurors that
the doors were opened and the news
paper men advised Of the verdict.
While Moore never testified before
the jury, he is said to have identified
the gun found near Scrivener.
Before the inquest had started.
| Moore, in the office Of the United
States attorney, had selected from a
group of five or six pistols spread on
the desk of Maj. Peyton Gordon the
weapon found beside the body of
Scrivener. He never touched another
| weapon. Taking the pistol in his
hands, Moore broke 1t and unscrewed
the cylinder. remarking, THAT is the
gun"
Says He Threw Gun Away.
The prisoner explained to Maj. Cor
don that he had secured the weapon
in Florida and brought 1t here with
him. Shortly before his arrest by
Scrivener September % last, Moore
said. he and a pal whose name was
not disclosed planned a robbery In tho
vicinity of Seventh and H streets
northwest. He had the gun, g. crow
bar and a nashlight wrapped in a
piece Of paper under his arm, he said,
when he noticed the action Of two
men whom he suspected Of being
"coppers." He threw the bundle into
a trash receptacle at the corner and
went across the street. He saw one
of the men whom he suspected look
into the trash box and take out the
package.
Mai Gordon then decided to present
Moore as a witness before the cor
oner's jury tomorrow. This, Of course,
is now impossible.
The testimony today centered about
Scrivener's strange actions immedi
ately before his death. Miss Catherine
Markey, his former fiancee, testified
that he implored her to remain his
| fancee on October IL. two days before
the day of his death. which was also