Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
PROBE OF PROCTOR
CASE TERMINATED
.. C. Chemist Reports Slayer
Took Quantity of Sleep
ing Tablets.

The Police Department today closed
it's investigation of the attempt of John
Cline Proctor, one of the three Busch
Slayers. to cheat the electric chair by
committing suicide. following an Off
cial report from the District chemist,
Aubrey " Fuller. that Proctor had
swallowed a quantity of a drug ordi-
narily used to produce sleep.
The Detective Bureau homicide
SQUAD which investigated the case, has
abandoned the theory that the drug
was smuggled to Proctor by an out
slider. 1t now is believed that Proctor
obtained the drug. tablet at a time,
from the Jail physician. and that he
boarded it until the night before the
execution.
The Jail doctor from whom Proctor
is thought to have obtained the drug,
DR.. J. Frank Adcock. left the Jail last
Thursday. the day before the triple ex-
ecution. to go to Arizona for hts health.
1t is understood that Proctor complain
ed to DR.. Adcock repeatedly that he
was unable to sleep, and that the physi-
clan gave him the drug to aid him in
obtaining his rest.
May Urge Precautions.
It was indicated today that the case
finally will be closed by the Commits
sioners with an order to jail authori-
ties to exercise more rigid precautions
to prevent such incidents. 1t is thought
likely that physicians at the jail will
be instructed to make certain that pris-
oners actually swallow medicines given
them which might be concealed and
used in quantity later for suicidal pur-
poses. 1t also is regarded as likely that
the Commissioners will ask that prts-
oners be carefully watched when re-
ceiving visitors to prevent the snug
Cling of drugs or poisons. Curtailment
of some of the liberties granted prlS-
oners, especially those occupying cells
in death row." is regarded as certain
The report of the District chemist,
submitted by him last night to Deputy
that Proctor'S stomach contained
quantity of the sleeping powders. The
precise quantity could not be deter
mined. as some of the drug had passed
from the stomach and as the chemical
analysis was greatly complicated by the
presence of embalming fluid. 1t is not
believed, however. that Proctor took
enough of the drug to cause more than
temporary Inconsistencies.
Consider Case Closed.
Though it has not been definitely de-
termined whether Proctor obtained all
or part of the tablets he swallowed
Thursday night from DR.. Adcock or
from woman visitor. as was at first
suspected, the police will not attempt
to clear up this point. Even had the
drug been smuggled to Proctor, no law
was violated. so far as has been learned.
since the drug he took is not one of
the poisons covered by the pharmacy
law.
So far as the law is concerned, the
Proctor case now is a thing of the
past, it was stated at police headquar-
tiers. The anticipated order from the
District Commissioners, expected to be
Issued as result of the case, probably
will not be reached by the board before
the close Of this week or next week.
Mrs. Leila Johnson, the girl who stood
by Proctor to the last. left a sick bed
today to explain that she knows moth
ing whatever about the source from
which the youthful slayer obtained the
drugs.
Mentally and physically i'll from the
severe ordeal through which she has
passed, Mrs. johnson has been confined
since the burial of Proctor last Sunday
to her residence at zoos r street, where
she has been making her home with
her mother /
She frankly admits that she has no
idea from whom he obtained the drugs.
Certainly not from myself or any one
connected with his family" she added
Only once was Mrs. johnson per-
mitted to talk with Proctor outside the
heavily screened cage in the jail which
separated him from his family when
they came to see him during the days
after 1t was known that hope of Glenn
ency had been denied. That was when
she was permitted TO say good-by to
him for the last time in the presence
of his mother and sister.