Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-26
Mrs. Roy Heavrin, Resident
of Park Lane, Called Be.
fore Grand Jury.
SAYS MOTOR CAR STARTED
IN REAR OF HOUSE LATER
Grand Jury Men Visit Death Scene
in Probe of Strangling
Evidence.

Called before the grand Jury as a
Government witness in the investiga-
ton into the mysterious death of Mrs
Robert A. Mcpherson, Mrs. Roy Heav-
rim, who occupies Apartment u.s. the
Park Lane, next to that of the Nc
Phersons. told reporters this afternoon
that she distinctly heard supplicating
cries of please let me alone" in the
midst OF terrifying screams about 2
am. on the night that Mrs. Mcpherson
is believed to have died Shortly after
the cries ceased, Mrs. Heavrin declared,
she heard an automobile start up in
the rear Of the apartment house.
She added other details. one of them
being to the effect that the cries were
repeated again and again, until they
almost made me sick
Mrs. Heavrin's story to certain eX-
tent corroborated that told by James
Mills, colored janitor, who said he was
awakened from a sound sleep by screams
of woman about 2 am. Mrs. Heavrin
appeared before the grand jury yester-
day for the first time and was called
again today.
She previously has been questioned
by Detective Kelly. who gave her name
to the grand jurors.
Kelly said today that Mrs. Heavrin
did not tell him the same story when
he first questioned her that she related
to reporters today. He said he had
traced the cries to a nearby apartment
where there had been a domestic row.
Citizens Praise Allen.
As the grand jury began the third day
Of its probe into the death OF
Mrs. Mcpherson. a representative Of a
large group of North Carolina citizens
arrived at the District Suprem Court
House to commend Policeman r. J.
Allen on his single-handed investiga-
ton OF her death.
Residents Of China Grove, N. C..
where Mrs. Mcpherson formerly resided,
are greatly aroused after hearing re-
ports of proceedings here and reading
letters that the girl wrote to her Larents
concerning the alleged treatment by
her husband, the representative said
They are preparing. he declared, to
raise a large fund as a reward for the
apprehension of the murderer. If it Is
determined that the girl was slain.
Guarded by a deputy marshal. men,
bers of the grand jury late yesterday
visited the apartment in the Park Lane
where Mrs. Mcpherson was found dead.
Immediately after convening this morn
ing, shortly before 10 o'clock. a black
shawl which was said to have been
worn by the slain woman on the night
Of her death was exhibited to the
tribunal and Mrs. Lillian Conway. tele-
phone operator, and Miss Sue Thomp-
son, both of the Park Lane, were or
dered to appear before the investigating
group.
Mrs. Conway is said to have gone to
the Mcpherson apartment on the night
Of the tragedy and observed the black
evening dress lying on the floor of the
living room. Other witnesses testified
that they had seen Mrs. Mcpherson
wearing the garment on the night OF
her death.
The questioning of alibi witness was
resumed with the calling Of Samuel
Riggs, fellow employe of Robert Nc
Pherson, jr.
He was followed to the stand by
j. Tarbell Howard, Prentice Jones and
Elmer Holland, all alibi witnesses.
Janitor Tells Story.
One of Aliens star witnesses, James
Mills. colored janitor of the Lombardy
Apartments, next door to the Park Lane
who Is reported to have heard screams
and cries on the night Mrs. McPher-
son met her death, was next QuiZzed
According to Mills. he was asleep late
that night when he was awakened by
cries and hastily donned his clothes and
made a vain search for their source.
Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly, chief of the
homicide squad, who leads the many
persons who believe in the suicide
theory, attributed the screams to an
alteration which a man and his wife
residing in the Lombardy had on that
night. Lieut.. Kelly, although he has
not hesitated to disclose the names OF
other witnesses and their connection
with the case or disregard their state
of mind, carefully refrained from iden-
tifying this witness. He declared that
rather than have the man embarrassed
ne would refuse to divulge his name and
that Assistant United States Attorney
William H. Collins had promised that
he would withhold his identity rather
than disclose him.
Husband Seems Unworried.
Young Mcpherson has not as vet beer
called to the stand, but strolls about the
corridors with his family or a detective
apparently undisturbed by the proceed
ing. His mother declared that at nc
time had she been in fear for her son
and that she knew everything would
be all right. Mr.. Mcpherson. however
Continued on Page 2. Column ~