Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-14
AIabaman Wants Thorough
Investigation of Conditions
in Capital Force.
ATTACK UPON FALL
OPENS FIERY SPEECH
Former Secretary Is Scored for
Declining to Be Examined
by Courts Doctor.

Demand for a thorough investigation
OF police conditions in Washington, i'll
cluding the death three years ago of
Detective Sergt.~ Arthur Scrivener, as
well as the Mcpherson case, was made
in the Senate today by Senator Hefin
Democrat of Alabama, who declafed
conditions here are terrible" and said
the President should have "a house
cleaning"
The Alabama Senator began his speech
by denouncing Albert B. Fall, now on
trial in the District Supreme Court III
connection with the oil leases made
while he was Secretary of the Interior
Senator Heflin followed this up by re-
ferring to the Mcpherson case and the
revival of discussions over the death of
Detective Scrivener three years ago.
concluding with his demand for sweep
ing investigation.
With regard to the oil trial now in
progress Senator Helm charged that
Fall, after having evaded trial time
and again, comes into court now and
"feigns an attack" The Senator crit
icized Fall for declining to be ex-
amined by DR.. Sterling Ruffin, who was
appointed by the court to ascertain
Falls condition. The Alabama Sena-
tor recalled the occasion when Fall, as
a number Of years ago to ascertain the
physical condition of President Wilson.
Cites Request Of Parents.
Turning from his denunciation of
Fall, Senator Hefiin called attention to
the request Of the parents of Detective
Scrivener for D reopening OF the in
vestigation into the mysterious death
Of their son, who was found shot in
an alley ID Georgetown three years ago,
grasping q torn necktie in his hand.
THE Police Department needs investi-
gation," Senator Hef1in asserted. He
added that this same bunch that COW
ers up crime says it was suicide" refer
ring to the death of Scrivener. The
Alabama Senator said 1t also should
be recalled that women witnesses, who
said they heard screams the night that
MRS. Virginia Mcpherson died recently,
were told by detectives to forget 1t.
Turning to Senator Blease, Democrat
OF South Carolina, who sponsored the
resolution on which the Senate District
committee is now planning a local in
vestigation, Senator Hefiin said:
Il hope the Senator from South Caro-
lima will have a thorough investigation.
He said he could give Senator Blease
the name of one person who had talked
to him about conditions here.
Hints Policeman Involved.
After the Alabama Senator had given
a detailed description Of the conditions
under which Detective Scrivener's body
was found, Senator Blease said:
IT don't think anybody doubts 1t
was a murder except the man who
did it,
Senator Hefiin declared it had even
been limited that the man who did 1t
is in the service.
Before the Senate met today, 1t was
learned that Senators Swanson and
Glass of Virginia, the home State of
the Scrivener family, are planning to
turn over to the police subcommittee
of the Senate District committee the
kilograms which they received this
morning from the parents of Detective
Scrivener from Winchester, Va, ask
ing the Senator's to assist in having an
other investigation into the death OF
their SoE.
Meanwhile, the subcommittee which
was designated Saturday to decide upon
the scope and time for beginning the
local investigation is awaiting the re-
turn to the city of the chairman, Sena-
tor Sackett of Kentucky. He is not ex-
pected at the Capitol until Wednesday
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column ~