Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-26
SUGGESTS FEDERAL
AID IN POLICE CASE
Senator Overman Would Con-
suit U. S. Investigators in
SheIby-KeIIy Probe.

Senator Overman O: North Carolina
today suggested that municipal authori-
ties investigating charges of inefficiency
against Inspector William S. Shelby and
Lieut. Edward j. Kelly in connection
with their handling of the Mcfnerson
case confer with officials of the Depart
ment of Justice with view to obtaining
any information the Federal investi-
gators may have obtained bearing on
the accusations against the veteran
police officers.
Senator Overman made his suggestion
in letters sent to Maj Donald A. Davi-
son, Assistant Engineer Commissioner,
and W. w. Bride, corporation counsel,
composing a committee assigned by the
Commissioners to inquire into grand
jury criticism of Shelby's and Kelly's
activities in connection with the Park
Lane strangling case.
The Senator, of whose home State
Mrs. Virginia Mcpherson was native,
told District authorities that in the in
teres: of the public he felt they should,
before passing on the Shelby Kelly case,
confer with j. Edgar Hoover, director
Of the Bureau of Investigation: John
E. Lasky, special assistant TO the Attor-
ney General, and Thomas F. Cullen,
inspector in charge Of the Mcpherson
investigation.
The letters suggested that the Fed
eral officials be asked to tell of any
discrepancies" uncovered during their
investigation that might have a bear
ing on the present inquiry.
Have Already Acted.
Mai. Dawson, when questioned about
the matter, said that the move sug-
gested by Senator Overman already had
been taken. He said the committees in
quiry should be completed before the
end of this week, whereupon report
will be submitted to the Commissioners
in connection with the joint demand
of Shelby and Kelly that they be
brought to trial before some legal body.
In suggesting to Dawson and Bride
that they have a conference with the
Federal investigators, Senator over
man is understood to have acted on
reports that the Department of JUS
tice had uncovered evidences OF po-
lice "bungling." although the depart
ment was concerned primarily with an
attempt to solve the mystery Of Mrs
McPherSon'S death.
In instructing the Bureau Of InvestiL
CATION to conduct aa investigation into
the strangling of the wife of Robert
A. Mcpherson, jr.,; Attorney General
~ tAldI COAAdtCA al
controversies of q police adminiStra-
ton nature should. not be gone into,
1t is known that k.askey. Hoover and
Cullen adhered closely to these instruc-
tions. They have refused consistently
to divulge whether they had run across
instances of inefficient handling Of the
case by the local authorities.
Will Guard Records.
It is understood the Department OF
Justice would refuse any request by the
District officials foT. permission to ex-
anime the typewriter transcript OF tes-
timony obtained during the course OF
the Governments investigation. AL
this testimony was aiken behind closed
doors, and many witnesses consented
TO talk freely only With the understand
ing that their statements would be held
in confidence. For fhis reason the Gov
eminent would not feel free in permit
ting an examinatiop of the confidential
record.
Whether officials Supervising the Fed
eral investigation would be willing to
express personal opinions to the Bride
Dawson committee X a matter of con-
lecture. The probability is they would
have nothing to saS, in view of the
specific instructions. by the Attorney
General to steer clear Of collateral
controversies.