Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-12
Letter to Capper Carries
Plea for Full Hearing on
Grand Jury Charges.
COMMITTEE UNDECIDED
ON COURSE OF ACTION
New Probe Now Might influence
Mcpherson Trial, Say
Members.

Inspector William s. Shelby and
Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly today turned to
the Senate District committee to seek
vindication Of the grand jury's severe
condemnation of their activities in con-
nection with the investigation of the
mysterious death of Mrs. Virginia Nc
Pherson while the committee was try
ing to decide whether it should 60 for
ward at once with its investigation of
the Police Department and the United
States attorneys Office. 1T was finally
decided to refer the program of the
inquiry to subcommittee.
Some members of the committee took
the view that an investigation of the
Police Department at this time might
unduly influence the trial of Robert A.
Mcpherson, held in jail under indict-
ment on a charge of numbering his
wife. Senator Blease, author of the
resolution, passed by the Senate yester-
day, insisted that the inquiry in so far
as it concerned an indictment in the
killing Of Lee King, a Chinese, go for
ward, but he was not opposed to a de-
lay In the probe regarding the handling
of the Mcpherson case.
Charges Opium Sale.
He also charged that he had in a
safe in his Office opium purchased with
In the past three days in q place not
far from the Capitol.
Senator Blaine of Wisconsin declared
that, in his opinion, Washington has
the most inefficient direction of its Po-
lice Department that I know of and
that the city was "a conglomeration OF
politics"
Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly,
through their attorneys, made an urgent
plea to the committee for full oppor-
tunity to answer the accusations Of in
ef1ciency and bungling as result of
which they were relieved of their COM
nlandS in the detective bureau and as
signed to other duties.
Their request was made in q letter
to Senator Capper, chairman Of the
District committee, signed by Henry
!. Quinn and George e.. Strong, counsel
for Shelby, and James A. OShea, who
Is attorney for Kelly.
Ask Specific Counts.
The letter asked that the committee
ascertain specific charges involved in
the broad attack of the grand jury, sc
that the officers may know exactly
what they are accused of having done
improperly in connection with the DO
lice probe OF the Mcpherson tragedy
The attorneys also issued a press state
ment along similar lines.
AT the committee meeting Senator
BleaSe said that the main question he
wanted investigated Immediately is the
charge as to whether there was delay in
the district attorneys ofice In connec-
ton with returning indictments grow
Ing out Of the killing of KingA who was
found shot on the street last June and
also to find out how permits are is
sued In Washington for the carrying
OF concealed weapons.
Agreeable to Course.
Senator Blease indicated that If the
committee thought 1t wise to let other
phases OF the investigation, such as the
police handling of the Mcpherson case,
wait until some later date such a
course would be agreeable to him.
One OF the high lights of the meeting
was the reiteration by Blease of the
charge he made in the Senate recently
that narcotics can be purchased within
the shadow of the Capitol. The South
Carolina Senator declared that he has
in a safe in his Office at the present
time quantity of opium that was pur-
chased within the past three days for
50 by a person who. the Senator said,
obtained it from place not far from
the Capitol.
Department Denounced.
Senator Blaine, Republican Of Wis
consin, made a scathing denunciation
of the Police Department, declaring it
is inefficiently directed. He extended
his criticism to the District Commits
sioners and other branches of the local
government.
Senator King, Democrat, of Utah,
took issue with Senator Blaine as to
the wisdom of beginning Immediately
on complete investigation of the
Police Department, expressing the belief
that any such inquiry started at this
into the MCPHERSON case. He told his
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