Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01
DETECTIVE PROBE
DEMAND IS MADE
White House Requests Thor
ough Inquiry Into
Situation.
Continued From First Page.)

day had expressed considerable worry
over what he termed the serious police
situation" growing out of the grand
jury probe of the death Of Virginia Nc
Pherson.
He said that If Lieut.. Edward Kelly,
head of the homicide squad, had made
a mistake" in making too hasty de-
cision of suicide" he should have adj
mitted the error and "buckled in to
clear up the matter" Mr.. Holiday said
he did not blame the District attorneys
office particularly, because they had to
depend on the report made to them by
the Detective Bureau. If the District
attorney cannot depend on the reports
of the Police Department it is a serious
situation" declared Mr.. Holiday with
emphasis.
Meanwhile the District Commission
ers marked time in their decision as to
the course they would take regarding
the grand jury's recommendation that
Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly, in
charge of the official investigation, be
relieved from duty pending an inquiry
into their handling Of the case.
It was stated at the District Building
the Commissioners did not intend to he
"stampeded" into any hasty and ILL
advised action.
Inspector William S. Shelby, chief
of the Detective Bureau, and Lieut.
Kelly, targets of the grand jury criti-
cism, remained on duty today as the
Commissioners informally considered
the recommendations that they be sus-
pended and their conduct in the investi-
CATION Of the Mcpherson case investi-
gated.
The official copy of the grand jury's
report reached the District Building this
afternoon.
Maj Pratt was closeted with the
Commissioners for nearly half an
hour, and it is understood he voiced
his objection to either the suspension
or transfer of Inspector Shelby or Lieut..
Kelly until q thorough investigation had
been made of the grand jury's charges.
The police superintendent. however, is
reported to have expressed the opinion
that, in view of the charges, both Shell
by and Kelly should be relieved of all
further connection with the McPher-
son case, and that the Detective Bu-
reau be relieved of further responsibility
for its prosecution.
Allen Presents Charges.
That Senatorial quarters are inter-
ested in the sensational developments
resulting from Policeman Robert j.
Aliens charges of official negligence,
subsequently sustained in part by the
grand Jury, was indicated when Police
man Robert J. Allen laid the charges
before Chairman Capper of the Senate
District committee against Assistant
District Attorney Collins and Lieut.. Ed
ward Kelly of the Detective Bureau,
while on the floor of the Senate Sena-
tor Blease, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima. was discussing yesterdays develop
ments before the grand jury.
1t was also announced. Mcpherson
will be arraigned Saturday morning
at 10 o'clock before Justice Peyton
Gordon in Criminal Division 8,
District Supreme Court. At that time
the court will be asked to set a date
for the trial, District Attorney Leo A.
Rover announced today.
That the trial will be delayed at least
a month, possibly longer, is indicated
by the fact that William S. Leahy, who
has been retained as counsel for Nc
Pherson, will be busy all this month,
possibly longer, with the trial of Albert
B. Fall now before the court.
Leahy announced today that he
would not be able to go into the Nc
Pherson case until after the Fall case
is disposed of. and said that If the dis
trict attorneys office insisted upon pre-
cipitating the trial of Mcpherson he
would have to withdraw from the case.
Mr. Rover today said that he has not
yet given thought as to who will be as
signed to the prosecution Of McPher-
son. He said that he will assign one of