Evening star., 1929-12-01
SCR|VENER PROBE
ON L|Ql!9R ANGLE
Rover to DeIve Into PosSibil.
ity Detective Was Slain
in Plot.

Prepared to swing tomorrow into
sweeping inquiry into the mysteriou
death three years ago of Detectiv'
Sergt. Arthur B. Scrivener, United State!
Attorney Leo A. Rover announced las
night that at the outset the probe woulC
be directed to the possibility that Scriv
ener, found shot through the heart IL
a Georgetown alley. was killed because
he was on the trail Of liquor rini
involving "higer-ups."
Coincidentally it, became known thai
one of the more than so witnesses sum
moned before the inquisitorial BODY
would give testimony that would def
nitely upset one of the reasons associ
ates of Scrivener advanced as to why
he would have been moved to suicide
on the eve of his wedding-a theory
that police maintained. but which thC
coroner'S jury at the time rejected
holding he was murdered.
Woman Accuses Husband.
These two developments yesterday
followed close on the heels Of announce
ment Friday by Rover that a woman
had charged that her husband, from
whom she is seeking divorce, kilec
the detective.
Rover said one of the first witnesses
tomorrow would be this woman. The
woman said she first became suspicious
of her husband when he stayed away
from home all night October l3. 1925
the date of the detectives death, and
returned without his tie. Scrivener was
clutching a torn cravat in his right
hand when his body was found in an
alley alongside of 1923 N street.
The man named by his wife has been
an employe of the District Government
for the past 80 years. He denied the
charge when questioned by police and
Rover While the man has not been
arrested, authorities at police headquar-
ters said yesterday that "he won't get
away"
Witness List Expands.
In stresSing his intention to make q
thorough investigation in order to def
nitely determine whether Scrivener was
murdered or took his own life, Rover
announced the list of witnesses included
numerous persons not asked to appear
before the coroner's inquest.
Rover revealed the grand jury would
be told of the reports that Scrivener
was checking up on the alleged partici-
patton of "higher-upS" in the activities
him.
Included in the long list of witnesses
summoned are the members Of the old
flying squadron" formerly headed by
Capt. Guy E. Burlingame, now retired.
Countless spectacular raids were made
by this group in enforcing the prohi-
bition law. Also among the witnesses
will be Ellis Duke, owner of a soft drink
bottling establishment at 1925 D street.
Sergt. Thomas McGrath of the prop
erty room of police headquarters, 1t
was expected, would be questioned con-
cerning the reported disappearance OF
liquor said to have been placed in his
care. Sergt. McGrath plans, 1t Is un-
derstood. to testify no seized whisky ever
has been stored in the property room.
though a quantity was kept In the
basement of the District Building for
a time several years before Schriveners s
death.
Kelly to Be Called.
The United States attorney said
the homicide squad, would be given an
opportunity to divulge the information
he gathered in a lengthy investigation
Immediately after the pullet-pierced
body was discovered Lieut. Kelly ad-
vanced q suicide theory as a witness
at the coroner's inquest.
The grand jury probably will spend
more than a day on the pistol angle of
the case alone. The weapon found be-
tween Scriyener's feet bore only .
blurred f1ngerprint. George Darnell,
detective. sergeant. is expected to
testify the gun bears marked resem-
blance to a pistol he found in a desk
at police headquarters and gave TO
Scrivener.
Efforts also are being made by Rover
to have Henry Miller Moore brought
here from the Federal penitentiary in
LeayenWorth, Kan, as a witness. Moore
is said to have identified the weapon as
one he threw into a trash can before
Scrivener'S death. In this event, the
pistol might have fallen into the hands
of Scrivener or o possible enemy in the
Police Department had 1t been found
and placed in the property room at
headquarters.
In this connection, Kelly is expected
to testify he found bullets in ScriVener's
in the pistol found at the death scene.
Death has sealed the lips of one of
the most important witnesses at the
coronerS inquest, Mrs. Annie Stauff
who lived near the spot where Scrive-
ner's body was found. Mrs. Stauff told
of seeing Scrivener drive his automo-
bile into a garage. She said he was
followed by two men. She later heard
loud voices and q shot in the alley.
Among the witnesses before the grand
jury will be Miss Catharine Louise
Doering, another Georgetown resident.
Miss Doering testified originally that
she heard the death shot and the pat
ter of feet as though someone were
running away.
Another witness, Miss Catherine
Markey, gave testimony at the inquest
to the effect that Scrivener proposed tC
her only two days before his death
though he was engaged to another gir
at the time. In the original investiga.
ton Miss Markey declared Scrivenel
told her on that occasion: We'll
Catherine. I'm not married yet-Goc
knows what will happen"
Witnesses in Chicago.
Rover was unable to say yesterday
whether Mr.. and Mrs. John F. Mara.
gon intend to answer his request thai
they come here from Chicago to give
the grand jury information in theil
possession. Mrs. Maragon, formerly
Helen Barnes Parker of Washington
was Scrivener's flancee when he died
the marriage having been set for thu
following night. Maragon also was &
friend Of Scrivener.
OIkleI WItAlCooCb WALL HlOKt
than a score of policemen and de-
tectlveS, several physicians who knew
Scrivener. several girls with whom thu
colorful detective had been friendly anC
firearms experts.
The witnesses already summoned are
intended to testify during the first thre,
days of the investigation. Rover saiG
others might be called in later. HI
added that while no subpoena has beer
served on John L. Gibson, a former po
liceman, he undoubtedly would be 1
witness before the conclusion Of tn,
investigation.
In a speech recently at a meeting o.
the Washington open Forum GibsoY
charged Kelly either killed Scrivene
or knows who did" AS a result, Kell,
demanded that Gibson be summoned b,
Rover and required to place before th'
grand jury any facts he might possess