Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29

SUICIDE. 10 newspaper men Kelly LOOK
UP all the points raised by Policeman
Allen in support of his murder theories
and offered explanations to show the
suicide theory was the more logical
He offered natural explanation of
the origin of the blood spots, declared
that experts had assured him woman
could choke herself to death with a
cord drawn around her neck. asserted
he had traced the screams to a domestic
fight in an adjoining apartment house
and discounted the importance of the
managers declaration that he had to
push the door open because the body
was against it.
Lieut.. Kelly pointed out that he him.
self had been required to use some
force to open the door after Manager
Ruff had called him TO the apartment.
He attributed this to the possibility that
the knee of the dead woman had bent
upward each time the door opened. only
to straighten out again when the door
was closed.
He answered Aliens claim thai rigid
itv of the limbs induced by rigor morris
would have precluded its bending with
the declaration that physicians had told
him r.gor norris disappears from corpse
after a certain length of time. Kelly
expressed the opinion the husband need
not have completely entered the room
to accomplish the covering of his wife's
body as it would have been possible for
him to open the door just enough to
reach in and throw the dress over the
form.
Cites Other Cases.
AS for other phases of the case the
detective lieutenant cited cases of
suicide under similarly strange circum-
stances. Persons have been known to
commit suicide in the dark and many
women suicides have failed to leave
notes. Kelly commended
Kelly, furthermore. emphasized there
we're no signs that struggle had taken
place in the bathroom or in the bed
room and there were no significant
bruises on Mrs. McPherSonS body. A
strong argument in favor of suicide. to
Lieut.. Kelly's mind, is the testimony of
the husband and others that Mrs. Nc
Pherson had attempted to end her life
on several previous occasions and that
on one occasion she had to be revived
by hospital physicians after inhaling
illuminating gas. Mrs. Mcpherson,
moreover, had reason to be respondent
because of domestic troubles which had
resulted three days prior to her death in
separation from her husband
Lieut.. Kelly also stated that McPher-
son was quizzed closely as to his move
ments the night Mrs. Mcpherson met
her death. Kelly said the husband
readily gave names of persons he had
seen and talked with. places he. had
gone and the approximate hours of his
visits. These statements were immedi-
ately checked and found to be without
a flaw, the head of the homicide squad
avowed.
Presumably to corroborate the testi-
mony of Lieut.. Kelly concerning the
conditions at the apartment when po-
lice arrived, Capt. w. G. Stott and
Policemen E. P. Hartman, ]. j. Ramsey,
w. F. Burke and F. o. Brass of the
third precinct also were called to
testify.
Tells of Telephone Call.
Warren F. Embrey, night chief of
detectives, is thought to have told the
grand jury of receiving telephone call
from Mrs. McPherson's father, A. A.
Hurley of China Grove, N. c., request
ing that police investigate message
from his daughter, describing quarrel
with her husband. This occurred sew
eral weeks before Mrs. McPherson's
death, and police say when they ar
rived at the apartment reconciliation
had been effected. Headquarters De-
tective Dennis j. Cullinane also testi-
fed.
Mrs. Lillian Conway and Miss Mary
Roberts, telephone operators at the
Park Lane. were questioned at length
by the jury.
Mrs. Conway, an attractive blonde,
had told police she listened in on a
telephone call made to the Mcpherson
Thursday night of the tragedy, and had
heard Mrs. Mcpherson Historically
hang UP on the caller, later identified
as Miss Eleanor Shepard, a nurse.
Mrs. Conway said she was so affected
by what she overheard that she called
the apartment back several times, but
received no response.
When first questioned by Lieut.. Kelly
Mrs. Conway failed to state the further
fact that when she was relieved from
the switchboard 20 minutes later she
obtained a pass-key and went to the
Mcpherson apartment. Gaining no re-
Spouse to her knock, according TO ner
story to Assistant District Attorney Col
Inns. she unlocked the door and turned
on the light.
Mrs. Conway said she saw black
garment in the middle of the floor.
The door to the bedroom was closed.
and no light was visible through the
crack beneath the door. There was no
noise to be heard. Believing that Mrs.
Mcpherson had gone to bed or had gone
out. she investigated no further, but
turned out the light and left.
Questioned Second Time.
Lieut.. Kelly was rather piqued to
learn of Mrs. Conways additional state
ments, and he questioned her again.
obtaining substantially the same in
formation. She told the detectives she