Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13
POLICEMAN ALLEN
CHARGES DAYTON
PLANNED Staying
Officer of Mcpherson Case
Fame Turns Attention to
Miss 0'DonneI's Death.
SAYS CONFESSED KILLER
CARRIED GUN TO HOTEL
Maid Describes Bedroom Scene
Prior to Defendant Arousing
Out of Alleged "Stupor."

The police private who shook the Nc
Pherson suicide theory and precipitated
a Senate inquiry into enforcement
methods in the District has turned his
attention to the O'Donnell murder case.
Robert j. Allen of No. precinct, pre-
sumably the officer on the beat when
Marjory ODonnell was strangled, an
nounced last night he has evidence that
the crime was premeditated. He said
he was working on the case at the direc-
ton of Capt. R. E. Doyle of No. pre-
cinct.
Allen pointed out that Dexter Dayton,
who has confessed he killed the girl in
mt of jealous rage, took a revolver and
30 cartridges when he left his room at
1918 H street and registered at the
Roosevelt Hotel
Gun Found in Room.
The policeman. who says he has been
investigating Dayton's story for two
days, declared that the gun and cart
ridges were found beneath the blanket
on one Of the twin beds in the hotel
room.
Allen insisted that Dayton intended to
bring the girl to his room when he reg
lStered Tor two under an assumed name,
explaining to the clerk that he "ex-
pected brother from Baltimore"
Allen declared that he personally
would 60 before the grand Jury and ask
a flrst-degree murder indictment when
the case is taken up, probably the mid
die Of next week.
The district attorneys Office is await
ing the outcome of several leads it has
under investigation before drawing the
bill for presentment to the grand jury.
Arthur Lambert, assistant district at
torney in charge of the case, declined
to say If the Government would seek
first-degree murder true bill, and a
death verdict In the event the case goes
to trial.
May Plead Insanity.
II was virtually certain, however, that
Dayton viii decline to enter a guilty
plea and win go into court to fight the
case on the grounds of emotional in
sanity, temporarily brought about by
drink.
That Dayton was extremely drunk be-
tween the time he strangled the girl.
possible Tuesday morning or Tuesday
Afternoon, and the hour early Wednes-
day when he called in police, Is borne
out by the statement of a hotel maid
assigned to the eighth floor.
The maid, according to the hotel
manager. called three times at room
300 between 10 am. and $3.50 pm.
Tuesday, knocking at the door and
every case. the maid said, she saw two
still figures lying beneath the covers on
one Of the beds.
There was no response to her knocks,
and the shades were drawn.
Phone Call Recorded.
It was further revealed that either
the 25-year-old insurance salesman o.
the girl, who was %, talked to some one
outside the hotel by telephone between
the hours of IL and IL o'clock Monday
night. The call was taken while the
regular telephone operator was of duty
by a bellboy. The number he wrote on
the charge ticket to room 803. as the
number obtained by the party who call
ed. is thought to have been garbled by
the bellboy
Later investigation revealed that no
one at the address of the telephone
number in question knew the O'Donnell
girl or Dayton, nor had they received
a call at that time.
Allen declared that at first he was
inclined to credit Dayton's story of
drunken fury, sudden and not to
be controlled, but that his investiga-
ton put a different light on the story.
1T have found evidence which con-
vinces me-" Allen said, that Dayton
laid his plans, registered at the hotel
without the girls knowledge and later
took her there on the pretense that she
was to meet some out-of-town friends
of his.
Planned Crime, Charged.
ITO my mind, his possession of the,
pistol and cartridges in room pre-
sumably engaged for one night or sew
eral at best is clear proof that he plan
ned either to intimidate the girl into
a promise of marriage. or to kill her
and shoot himself It looks as though
his plans went through until the time
came for him to turn the gun on him.
self, and then he lost his nerve"
Deputy Coroner Joseph d. Rogers,
who performed the autopsy on the dead
girl. was in conference yesterday after
noon with Mr.. Lambert and District
Attorney Leo Rover. presumably giving
the prosecuting officers detailed re-
port of the condition Of the body when
examined
Reports that Marjorie ODonnelps
wrists were found to have been broken.
and that her body might be exhumed
following burial yesterday in Pittsburgh.
have been described as groundless IS
DR.. Rogers and investigating officers.