The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-11-20
HUSBANDS
ALIB|I IS
:. CRIJX
Continued From Page y

EEQeEA1 CASSSs '.t ......
"A hurried search Of a similar
volume shows two significant
passages.
The first was:
"A grand Jury must be SO con-
WINGED OF the guilt Of the party
under investigation as to feel sure
that q petit jury would report q
verdict OF conviction on trial"
The second passage was:
"a grand jury has authority to
andict an accessory to a crime
even though the principal is not
known or cannot be located"
Recall of Wilmer Ruff, manager
of the Park Lane Apartments,
today completed the long list of
witnesses who have gone before
the Grand Jury hearing evidence
in the case.
Significance was placed in the
recalling of Ruff because he was
the first witness to be heard by
this Grand Jury eight days ago.
He is believed to have told both
Grand Juries that when McPher-
son called him to the apartment
upon discovery of the body he
virtually had to force the door
open to get into the bedroom
where the body lay. Mcpherson
claimed that, prior to Sulnmoning
Ruff he had placed q dress over
the Semi-nude body OF his gar
roted wife.
Neither young Mcpherson nor
his parents were summoned to
testify. His parents have de-
clared he went to bed in their
home about 1880 On the morning
the murder is believed to have
been committed.
Joe T. LeWark, conductor on
the Soldiers Home line Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, the Governments star
witness in an attempt to break
down McPherson's alibi, was the
first witness called before the
Grand Jury today. He was
closeted with the inquisitorial
body exactly IS minutes.
Repeats Newspaper Story
When he came out his only
comment was that they had
asked him everything" He said
The told the same story he has
bid to the newspapers and to De-
partment of Justice agents and
that was that Mcpherson boarded
his car at Illinois Avenue and Up
Shur Streets at 1900 a. m. and
left the car at Ninth and Streets
Northwest, 20 minutes later.
Five other witnesses were be-
fore the Grand Jury for short
periods only. They were Mrs.
Anna Price and Virginia Robey
and John Kefauber. Louis Sacks
and William T. Griffith.
Should the Grand Jury indict,
1t is said that the trial will be
held. just as soon as the defense
counsel is ready for trial-prob-
ably within 80 days.
Should they fail to indict. Nc
Pherson may be released from
custody wlLIlin a few days. Al
though the old indictment still
holds. it rot having been at
tackled in court, there are two
courses by which the prisoner
may DC freed from jail.
The District Attorney can nolle
PROSE- the case, or the defense
can file a plea in abatement.
Yesterday steady stream of
alibi and other witnesses wern't be-
fore the Grand Jury and more
progress was made than on any
day since the hearings began.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. Russell VaSS
Of the Lombardy Apartments
were among the witnesses ex-
amined. They are said to have
testified to numerous "boyI
friends" entertained by Mrs. Nc
Pherson In her apartment four
or five times a week from about
August until the time Of her
death.
Nothing Unconventional.
Nothing unconventional was
seen, they declared, and Virginia
didn't even bother to pull the
shades down. They also told of
the disappearance on the night
Of the murder Of an old tennis
ball which had been on the roof
just outside the Mcpherson Apart
ment for months. This they ex-
planned to a Times reporter could
have very readily disappeared by
someone walking on the roof in
the dark and accidentally kick
ing it.
William C. Leahy, counsel for |
Mcpherson, last night gave out |
a statement in which he out |
lined in detail the alibi which |
he will attempt to prove to q |
jury should the case come to
trial. Mcpherson left the apart.
ment Of his enStranged wife,
where the murder occurred, at
1855 p. m. on Thursday, Septem-
Der IL, the statement set forth.
From there he. took taxi to
Georgia Avenue and VpShur
Street and practiced football for
an hour with the Petworth Pen
nants, of which he is a mem
Der. From there he went to the
home Of his aunt in the 900
block Of Varnum- st. N. W., and
at $40 party Of young folks,
accompanied by his aunt, mo-
tored to Mt. Rainier.
They arrived back at his aunt'S
home at 1921 and from there
he walked to his parents home
in the 400 block Of Upsnur St,
arriving there at 1890. After
conversing with his father Ior a