Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01
GRAND Jury RAPS
WILL Be ORDERED
White House Will Request
Thorough Inquiry Into
Situation.

The special report OF the grand jury
yesterday recommending the suspen-
sion of Inspector William S. Shelby
and Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly of the De-
tective Bureau for an investigation OF
their activity in the Mcpherson case,
follows:
Whereas the July grand jury has
Just completed an investigation into the
death of one Virginia Mcpherson and
has submitted its findings to this hon.
orable court, and whereas the grand
jury in its investigation has become
convinced that certain matters in con-
nection Herewith should come to the
attention of the court, the following
resolutions were adopted by said jury
September 80, 1929:
BE it resolved, 1t is the sense of the
grand jury of the District of Columbia
for the July. 1929 term. that the in
vestigation into the conditions sur
rounding the death of one Virginia
Mcpherson was handled in a most in
efficient and unbusinesslike manner by
those in charge of the detective bureau
of the Metropolitan Police Department,
in that
into the death of Virginia Mcpherson,
held as a matter of form, that i'm
portant witnesses who were summoned
TO said inquest were not given an oppor-
tunity to present their testimony.
Police Guard Removed.
2. Following the coroner's inquest GER
tain representations were made to the
Office of the United States attorney in
dicating that there might possibly have
been a crime committed, Whereupon
representative of the said Office visited
the scene of death with those making
the representations, and is reported to
have expressed it as his opinion there
might have been a crime committed;
that the United States attorneys office,
acceeding to the request of those making
the representations, then ordered po-
lice guard placed at the scene of death
to prevent the removal or disturbance
of evidence on the scene: that said
guard without the knowledge of those
interested in the case, was, with the
permission or at the direction OF the
United States attorneys Office. removed
and permission given by Lieut.. Kelly.
in charge of the homicide squad, for
the removal or destruction of certain
evidence before it was possible to have
completed thorough investigation.
Stenographer Stopped.
g. That upon the opening of the in
vestigation before the grand jury on
Tuesday several members of the United
States attorneys Office were present In
the grand jury room in an attempt to
make a stenographic report Of the pro-
ceedings: that. upon being asked the
purpose for which the report was being
made, the assistant United States at
torney in charge advised the jury 1t
was for use in possible perjury pro-
ceedings to be instituted against GER
tain witness. and for use against said
witness before the Trial Board of the
Metropolitan Police Department; that,
it being the understanding of the grand
jury that proceedings before it were Of
a strictly confidential and secret nature
and especially owing to the fact that
the statements Of said witness were
being recorded without recording the
questions propounded by the assistant
United States attorney, objection to the
procedure was made and the taking OF
stenographic notes discontinued.
f. That in connection with this in
vestigation there was presented to the
jury such widely divergent testimony by
members Of the Police Department as
to conditions at the scene of death Of
the jury there was a most curSory and |
inadequate investigation conducted at
the time the body was found.
Efforts to Mislead Charged.
60 That evidence which proved of |
vital importance to the jury in arriving |
at its verdict was not produced through |
the efforts of the Detective Bureau nor |
were the witnesses giving such evidence |
ever interviewed by investigators at |
tached to said bureau, although such |
witnesses were readily available had an /
effort been made to interview them.
90 AS witness before the said grand |
jury, Inspector William S. Shelby, IN
charge of the Detective Bureau, and |
Lieut. Edward j. Kelly. in charge of
the homicide squad. did under oath
attempt to nislead the Jury regarding |
physical facts and that their statements
were subsequently disproved by other
witnesses and by members OF the jury
themselves.
Is That from the sworn testimony
of witnesses in this hearing and from
the attitude of another witness before
it the grand jury firmly believes that
officials of the Detective Bureau indi-
Gated to such witnesses what they
should testify and what they should
forget.
Report Quotes Shelby.
60 inspector Shelby on the witness
sand raised his fist in rage and shouted
This grand jury should indict that
mainland that damnable-wonan for
perjury indicating to the jury that the
testimony of these two witnesses hao
OeeH QlVulScu W ALLL.
"Resolved, That the grand jury re-
quests this honorable court to transmit
to the major and superintendent Of po-
lice and the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia its recommendation
that Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly
be relieved of all duties in connection
with the Detective Bureau until their ,
activities in connection with this case
by proper tribunal to determine what
IL any disciplinary action should be
taken.
Resolved, 1t is the recommendation
OF this body that in future hearings be-
fore the grand jury witnesses, represent
tatives OF the press and others be ex-
the grand jury room.
Resolved, That this report be made
to the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia and that copy be placed in
the minutes of the grand Jury to be-
come a part thereof as permanent
record