Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-24
SURPRISES LIMITED
AS AGENTS DEBATE
MCPHERSON REPORT
U. S. Investigators Near Gil
max of Intensive Probe in
Death of Young Nurse.
SUSPECTS" ELIMINATED
AS EVIDENCE is HEARD
Operatives Conduct Work With
Open Minds on Suicide Theory,
Observers Declare.

Nearing the climax of its long and
intensive investigation of the strangu-
Iation of Virginia Mcpherson, the De-
partment of Justice today was sitting
the chaff from the harvest OF testimony
taken in the case and collecting mass
of facts on which to attempt solution
of the mystery.
There is reason to believe that the
final report of the Federal Investigators
will contain facts of surprising CHAR
acter. Indications are that data now
in hand is sufficient to enable the IN
vestigatorS to reach definite opinion
as to whether Mrs. Mcpherson was
murdered or committed suicide, but no
hint has been Forthcoming 10 Warrant
a prediction as to the side OF tne theo-
retical fence upon when the 1oVelh-
metn has placed itself.
Hold Open Minds.
throughout the inquiry the justice
oneratiyes have held their minds open
to the suicide theory, in the face OF the
opinion of a grand jury that the nurse
was strangled with pajama oelt tleo
around her neck by her husband, RoperG
A. Mcpherson, jr., the Department OF
Justice has been assigned the duty OF
prosecuting Mcpherson on frSt-oesree
The biggest surprise of the case would
he a decision by the Department OF
Justice to ask that the charge against
Mcpherson be nolle pressed. Such
would have to be the move II the
departments Investigators found that
Mrs. Mcpherson took her own life, as
was contended by the local detectlVe
bureau and the coroner'S jury.
The Star has learned that the testi-
nony received by the Government al
ready has eliminated from the case GER
tain alleged suspects" mentioned ear
Iier in the investigation. just who are
the suspects whose names have oeen
cleared the officials refuse to state.
Physician Eliminated.
From other reliable sources, however,
The Star has learned that one OF the
persons eliminated from the picture Is
prominent local physician who commit
ted suicide two days after Mrs. McPher-
sons death. The name of this ply
sician first was linked with the McPher-
son case by newspapers other than Inc
Star. apparently the only basis for the
rumors being that the physician had
known Mrs. Mcpherson in professional
way. ..,
gated these reports thoroughly, ana
there Is gOOQ reason W bCllCVC Wy
were found to be without foundation.
Friends of the dead physician have
greatly deplored the innuendos cast
upon his character by the published
reports.
Home Through Evening.
Information given the Bureau OF In
vestigation by certain of these fr1ends
was to the effect that the physician had
been in his home all of the evening
of Septembr IL when Mrs. Mcpherson
came to her death.
To clear the physicians name openly
with an official statement is impos-
Cible as the department Immediately
would be called on by friends OF other
suspects to take similar action with re-
gard to the others.
1t is understood the findings OF the
Justice agents will be reported to john
E. Laskey, special prosecutor of Nc
Pherson, within the next week or 10
days. When the report is in the hands
of the prosecutor arrangements probably
will be made for an early trial OF the
charge against Mcpherson. The de-
Tense will be in charge of William E
Eeahy, local attorney, now occupied
with defending Albert B. Fall in the Oil
trial.