Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-03
Department of Justice to
Take Over Investigation
and Prosecution of Young
Husband.
MITCHELL TAKES ACTION
UPON REQUEST OF ROVER
Bride and Dawson Visit Apartment
in Preparing for Hearing of
Charges Made by Grand Jury
Against Inspector Shelby and
Lieut.. Kelly.

The Department of Justice to-
day took over the investigation
into the murder of Mrs. Virginia
Mcpherson and assumed charge of
the prosecution of her husband
charged by grand jury with hav-
irg choked her to death with c
pajama cord.
Attorney General Mitchell an
nounced that Federal agents will
be sent out to conduct the Federal
investigation of the mysterious
case, and that special depart
mental prosecutor will be assigned
to the prosecution.
The action of the Attorney
General was taken in response to
a formal request made to him by
District Attorney Leo A. Rover,
whose office has been criticized III
connection with the handling OF
the grand jury probe.
The Federal authorities will conflne
themselves to the Mcpherson case it.
self, the Attorney General explained.
and will not take any part in the in
vestigation into charges by the grand
Jury against the local police department.
Hadn't Read Report.
Regarding the grand jury report al
leging irregularities of procedure in the
Office of the United States attorney
here. Attorney General Mitchell said ne
had not as yet carefully read the grand
irry report and nothing now was being
done in that regard.
Formal announcement of the parttci-
patton of the department was mace
personally by the Attorney General AZ
his conference with the press at IL 80
following his conference earlier thls
morning with District Attorney Rover
and others. "
The Attorney General said that spe-
eiaI prosecutor for the Mcpherson case
had been requested by Rover, and: II
a suitable man can be tound, tnere
seems to pe no reason to refuse the re-
quest" The Attorney General further
explained that this man has not yet
been selected, but there is every llKen-
hood he will be assigned shortly. Inns
special prosecutor may be member
of the legal staff at the Department OF
Justice. or he may be selected from out
side the department, member Oh tne
District bar, and constituted specIai
assistant for this work.
Special Assistant.
The prosecuting officer would carry
the authority and rank OF special as
sistant to the Attorney General.
Rover, in requesting assistance from
the Federal department, told the Attor-
nev General according to the latter,
that the request was made in view OF
the crowded condition of business IN the
District attorneys Office and OF the SIT
uation generally on this case.
IN conference with the Attorney Cen
eral IN his Office this morning on the
Mcpherson case were Rover, Assistant
Attorney General Oscar R. Luhring, IN
charge of criminal prosecution, and j.
Edgar Hoover head of the Bureau OF In.
vestigation, who will direct the special
agents in their inquiry.
The Attorney General, in announcing
the action of his department, made pun
lie the following statement:
Special agents of the Department OF
Justice have been assigned to work on
the Mcpherson case. We have no dis
position to interfere with the local au-
thorities, and it is likely that at this
stage of the case the agents of the de-
partment will not be able to accomplish
anything or to develop any neW facts,
but we want to be of service, and these
special agents will review the case and
see If there is anything further to be
done.
u. S. Attorneys Request.
"The United States attorney has just
requested that a special assistant be
assigned to his office to deal with the
case, and if suitable man can be found
there seems to be no reason to refuse
the request"
ON his arrival at the courthouse
this morning after the conference with
Attorney General Mitchell, Mr.. Rover
said it would be for the special assistant
designated by the Department of Justice
to decide whether he would accept the
offer of Maj. Henry G. Pratt. chief OF
police. to assign Policeman Robert j.
Allen to aid the United States attorneys
ONCE in the preparation Of the prose-
cution Of Mcpherson.
Meanwhile. Corporation Counsel Will
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column A.