Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-02
Bride and Dawson
Plan for Probe of
Jury Charges.
PRATT CONSIDERS
RESTORING ALLEN
Body That Returned In
dictment Called to
Testify.

Cooperation of the United
States attorneys Office in the in
vestigation of the charges against
Inspector William S. Shelby, as
sistant superintendent of police,
and Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly was
pledged to the special board of in
quiry appointed by the District
Commissioners at a conference
this afternoon between United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover and
the two members of the investi-
eating board-Corporation Coun-
sci William w. Bride and Maj.
Donald A. Dawson, Assistant Engi-
neer Commissioner.
At the request of the board of
inquiry, Rover promised to turn
over the transcript of the minutes
of the grand jury session, which
resulted in the indictment for
murder of Robert Mcpherson, jr.,
and the removal from the detec-
tive bureau of Shelby and Kelly,
as well as a complete list of the
grand jurors and the witnesses
who testified before it in the Nc
Pherson case.
It is the intention of the board to
| 70 To of
ing their appearance during the
| inquisitorial proceedings to be held in
the Office of Corporation Counsel Bride
at the District Building. Bride also
announced that the board would well
come information from any others
who could be of assistance to it In its
! investigation.
This is to be a complete investiga-
ton and it will be made without fear
or favor" Bride declared after the
conference with Rover.
Mail Letters Tonight.
| The letters inviting the members of
| the grand jury and the witnesses who
| appeared before it to testify at the
| be mailed out tonight with the hope
of having at least several of them
| ready for appearance tomorrow morn
| ing when the inquiry will formally be-
gin at a time still to be fixed. Al
| though the proceedings will be con-
Quoted behind closed doors, it is planned
to have a stenographic report made
! for the information of the board in
drawing up its findings at the conclu-
sion of the investigation.
The conference between Bride, Davl-
son and Rover lasted for half an hour.
| The two members of the investigating
board then returned to the District
| Building to complete plans for the
| inquiry which they started this morn
| ing following appointment late yes
| terday.
Can't Force Witnesses.
| Mr.. Bride said that he had no power
! to COMPEL the attendance OF anybody
for questioning and that If anybody
declined to come or declined to answer
questions put there would be no method
! by which to COMPEL their presence or
| their answer.
Under police regulations it is neces-
! sary for some individual to bring formal
| charges before a policeman may be
cited for trial. 1t is possible that the
members of the grand jury will be asked
if they will sign formal charges. II
| there is trial it is probable all menu
bers of the Mcpherson grand jury will
be summoned as witnesses.
|
among the first witnesses called by the
board.
Mr.. Bride had before him today as a
basis for his decision to inquire what
transpired in the grand jury room, mat
tiers which are usually regarded as
secret and confidential, written report
from Thomas F. Cameron, one of his
legal aides, stating. that the oath OF
secrecy of the grand jurors is not bind
| ing upon them after the indictment has
been returned and the defendant has
been taken into custody If the admin
istration of justice requires that they
tell of what transpired in the grand
jury room.
Mr.. Cameron's opinion carried long
citations from Ruling Case Law and
from the decisions of courts in many
cases that for the purpose of securing
public justice grand jurors could be
compelled to testify as to what had
tranSpired in the grand jury room.
While its specific duty Is to determine
whether there was a motive on the part
of the Detective Bureau to obtain q
jury in connection with the mysterious
death of Mrs. Virginia Mcpherson,
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty,
president of the Board of Commission
ers let 1t become known that the board
has broad powers and can go into
other phases OF the Detective Bureaus
activities If developments in the inves-
tigation indicate that such action is
warranted.
| May Restore Allen.
| AS sort of prelude to the official in
vestigation Of the charges against Shell
by and Kelly, Maj. Henry G. Pratt,
superintendent of police, revealed that
he is seriously considering restoring to
duty Policeman Robert j. Allen, whose
independent investigation of the Nc
Pherson case resulted in the grand jury's
| Indictment for murder of Robert A. Nc
Pherson, jr. Allen is now under suspen-
sion for his investigation. Of the case
because he ignored the Police Depart
ment manual and failed to disclose his
evidence to superior officer.
| Maj. Pratt also indicated that despite
Aliens violation of the police rules by
his unauthorized investigation, he likely
would carry out Shelby's promise TO
promote the officer If he proves Mrs.
Mcpherson was murdered.
| "If Aliens theory of murder is proven
in the courts" he declared, then
believe he Is deserving of promotion"
| It was announced at the District
Building this afternoon that the hearing
before the Police Trial Board of charges
that Allen was found seated in an auto
mobile last month when he was sup
posed to be patroIling his beat has been