Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-30
WAY is CLEARED
FOR EARLY TRIAL
OF POLICE OFFICERS
CONTINUED From First Page !

(OOnunueo from First Page.)
the files of the department to be opened
to the special board.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) WILLIAM D. MITCHELL,
Attorney General"
Letter of Commissioners.
The letter sent by the Commissioners
to the Attorney General follows:
"On September 80, 1929, a grand
jury in the District of Columbia made
certain charges against Inspector VIII
liam s. Shelby and Lieut.. Edward j..
Kelly, both of the Metropolitan Police
Department, in connection with their
activities in and about their investi-
CATION OF the death of Mrs. Virginia
McPherSon and the party or parties to
be held responsible therefor. A CODY
OF these charges is included herewith.
A special investigating board, as sug-
gested by the grand jury, was appoint
ed by the Commissioners, consisting of
William w. Bride, corporation counsel,
and Maj. D. A. Dawson, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, who were di-
rected to go thoroughly into the mat
ter to determine whether or not there
had been any improper handling Of the
matter by the two police officers in
volved.
THE special board invited the mem
bers OF the grand jury to appear be-
fore 1t to furnish the facts upon which
the charges were based, but only four
members of the grand jury aforesaid
responded to the invitation, or furnish
ed any information whatsoever con-
corning the issues involved. The special
board was thereupOn directed to dis
continue its work pending the outcome
OF the investigations into the death of
| Mrs. Mcpherson which were conducted
by the Bureau Of Investigation of your
department. This action was taken so
that there could be no possible inter-
ference with the work of your depart
ment, and no prejudice could result to
the man then under indictment.
Ask Federal Report.
"Now that this work has been COM
pleted and no preSentment has been
made by the second grand jury, the
Commissioners desire to have the special
board proceed with its investigations
The Commissioners are DESTROYS that
your department make available to this
special board the Stenographic report OF
the statements made to the Bureau OF
Investigation, to the end that the spe-
cial board may see in what, IL any, par
| ticulars that record diScloSeS evidence
Of ineficiency or improper conduct OF
the Police Department, or the individ-
uals In question. 1t is. of course, appre-
! ciated that your investigation was moi
directed to the particular point at is
sue before the special board, but it Is
| felt that, under all circumstances, its
investigation would not be complete un-
less the facts as disclosed in that rec
ord are made available to it.
| There is no desire to, remove, the
stenographic notes to this building
merely that the members of, this spe-
cial board may go through the report
at a place that you may indicate, and
with the assurance that none Of Its
contents will be disclosed to any one.
1T is. sincerely hoped that you may
see fit to grant the special board the
permission requested"
The letter Of the Commissioners fol-
lowed receipt from Senator Overman OF
North Carolina of suggestion" that
the District authorities confer with De.
partment of Justice officials with a view
to obtaining from them any informa.
ton they might have of interest In tht
Shelby Kelly matter.