Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-09
CITY HEADS CONFER
WITH PROBE BOARD
IN MCPHERSON CASE
Inquiry Into Grand Jury's
Charges Against Police
Turns Unexpectedly.

The municipal inquiry into the grand
jury's charges of inetficiency against the
Detective Bureau for its handling of the
Mcpherson case took an unexpected
turn today as the Department of JUS
tice continued to follow the myriad
clues which may lead to the eventual
solution of the mysterious death of Mrs.
Virginia Mcpherson.
For nearly ar hour the investigating
beard, composed of Corporation Counsel
William W. Bride and Maj Donald "A.
Dawson, assistant engineer commission
er, was cloSeted with the District Com
miSSionerS, discussing various phases
of it's probe, which thus far has failed
to be productive of any apparent tan
gible results through the unwillingness
of most of the members of the grand
jury to testify.
Secrecy Hides Conference.
A decided air of secrecy enveloped the
conference, but the Commissioners let
it be known that an announcement of
importance probably would be made at
the District Building some time this
afternoon that would reveal the pur-
pose of their session with Bride and
Dawson. The developments in the in
quiry in the past few days have been
so upset that no one would hazard a
W t4AC PdAPSAN VA SAAS pAA
nouncement.
There were indications, however,
that the Commissioners had asked the
board for a report, but there were no
intima tions as to what it would con-
tain. The board prepared report two
days ago recommending discontinuance
of the inquiry, but it was not accepted
and plans were made to continue the
probe as originally scheduled. 1nvi-
tations were sent by registered mail to
all of the 70 witnesses who testified
before the grand jury, in addition to
members of the coroner's jury and its
witnesses, to appear before the hoard
If they had any information bearing
on the charges against Inspector VIII
liam S. Shelby and Lieut., Edward j..
Kelly, who were removed from the
detective bureau as a result OF the
grand jury's criticism.
No Session Is Held.
The board held no session today,
since the list of grand jurors requested
to testify had been exhausted and the
first group of the 70 witnesses called
are not scheduled to appear until 1:30
o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
At the Department of Justice, the
agents assigned to investigate the Nc
Pherson case continued to question wit
nesses, but any information they may
have drawn from them was guarded
with secrecy. Two of the important wit
nesses interviewed were Inspector Shell
by, who. with Lieut. Kelly. was the tar
get of the grand jury's attack. and DR..
Adam Kemble. a prominent Washing
ton surgeon, who testified before the
Inspector Shelby spent considerable
time with the Federal agents behind
closed doors, although the Department
of Justice would not deny nor affirm his
presence there The veteran police
officer also maintained the attitude OF
reticence which he adopted when first
put under fire and declined to make
any comment after leaving the depart
ment.
Shelby Awaits vindication.
II have nothing to say" declared In
spector Shelby. II am not saying any
thing now and will have nothing to
make public until am vindicated. My
case is in the hands of lawyers and
they advise me to say nothing"
It was learned, however, that the
Shelby only the physical aspects of Mrs.
McPherson's death and his own con-
clusions that the nurse was a suicide.
The department, it was said, has
adopted hands off" policy with re-
spect to the grand jury's condemnation
of Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly,
and intends to leave this matter entire
ly in the hands of the District Com
, missioners and the board of inquiry ap-
pointed to sift the charges.
]. Edgar Hoover, chief of the Bureau
Of Investigation of the Department of
Justice, and the agents who are work.
fn kIaak
their investigation entailed a trip to
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