Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-21
AGENTS TURN QUIZ
TO SUICIDE STORY
Mcpherson Case Witness
Who Told of Death At
tempt Called.

Marital troubles between Virginia and
Robert A. Mcpherson, 1r., leading up to
the estrangement which ended in tragic
death for the pretty wife, are being
studied attentively by Department of
Justice agents investigating the Park
Lane strangling mystery.
The line of testimony being followed
by Federal operatives within the past
few days has had to do chiefly with
this phase Of the case.
Information of this character was
sought today nom Mrs. Aileen saville
of the Highview Apartments, where the
McPhersons lived before taking an
apartment in the. Park Lane. Mrs.
Saville. incidentally, Is witness whose
testimony WIS pointed to during the
grand jury inquiry as throwing support
to the theory that Mrs. Mcpherson
committed suicide.
Previous Attempts Told.
In the early stages of the Mcpherson
investigation, before the Department of
Justice took a hand in the case. Mrs.
Saville was reported to have told of
several attempts made by the nurse to
end her life while residing at the High
view, On one of these occasions the
wife is said to have contemplated jump
ing from the roof Of the apartment
building and at another time the man
ager was called to render aid to Mrs.
Mcpherson after she had inhaled
Illuminating gas.
A janitor OF the Highview, moreover,
Is said to have recalled an occasion
when the husband sought assistance in
preventing Mrs. Mcpherson from beat
ing her head against wall, In a flt OF
hySteria.
Other Revelations Hinted.
Mrs. Saville is believed to have given
the agents other information bearing
on the domestic difficulties known to
have existed between the couple.
In thus seeking the testimony OF per-
sons reputedly having knowledge of
suicidal tendencies on the part Of the
wife, it is apparent the Government
has not wholly shut its eyes to the
suicide theory advanced by the local
detective bureau and adopted by the
coroner's jury.
It was in an effort to learn some
thing more about the life and char
acteristics of the dead girl that the De-
partment of Justice yesterday ques-
ClODeQ MIS-. bllIl6 hulOSdy, NSW 1OA n
nurse, who had been referred to as an
acquaintance Of Mrs. Mcpherson. Mrs.
Lindsay formerly resided at the Park
Lane, but moved two weeks prior to
the tragedy. 1t is understood she was
unable to give the department any in
formation of value.
To Question Husband.
This line of examination will not be
completed until the husband himself
has been interrogated. Mcpherson, in
Jail on a flrst-degree murder charge
preferred by the grand jury. probably
will be questioned in his cell at the
District Jail. William E. Leahy, his
attorney has said he has no objection
to such an interview, and it is likely
there are many questions the Federal
investigators would like to put to him.
Reports that the movements of an
other suspect" on the night OF the
tragedy have been unaccounted for
were to be checked on by the agents.
although they are said already to heve
received information which, II true,
would eliminate this person from any
connection with the Park Lane death.
Reports of experts who examined
X-ray photographs of Mrs. McPherson's
body and who tested the viscera for
possible poisons or drugs we're expected
to be received at the department some
time today. Much interest attaches to
what these examinations may show.