Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-27
Commissioners File Forma'
Request as Bureau DTec.
tor Refuses Plea.
REPLY NOT YET MADE
BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
His Instructions to Avoid Collateral
Controversies in Mcpherson
Probe Are Recalled.

Attorney General Mitchell today re-
ceived from the District Commissioners
letter urgently requesting the Depart
ment of Justice TO turn over to munici-
pal authorities any information 1t may
have pertinent to the local inquiry into
charges Of ineficiency against Inspector
William S. Shelby and Lieut. Edward
]. Kelly.
The charges against the former de-
tective chiefs were made by the July
grand jury as result Of It's investisa-
ton of the death of Mrs Virginia Nc
Pherson.
The formal request to the AttorneJ
General came on the heels of q futile
informal effort made by the so-called
Bride Dawson committee to obtain such
information from ]. Edgar Hoover, d.
rector Of the Bureau of Investigation.
Mitchell Considers Letter.
Attorney General Mitchell had the
letter of the Commissioners under con-.
Sideration today, but at a late hour
had not replied to it. It is recalled
that at the time of issuing orders 10
son mystery the Attorney General ad-
monished the Investigators to steer
clear of "all collateral controversies"
growing out of the case.
It was expected Mitchell would for
ward the letter to Director Hoover for
his recommendation. Hoover was pre-
pared to act Immediately, 1t was under
stood.
Put Request in Writing.
1t was learned today that, dissatis-
fed with their informal interview, the
committee members decided to put their
request for the records In writing, and
to include in the letter, certain. rea-
sons why the committee. feels the de-
partment would be justified in turning
over its files in this specific instance.
The committee is said to feel that
the question of public interest is in
volved, and that the Government Is
under q certain obligation to divllige
anything 1t may know Of interest in
the settlement of the police ccf1tro-
versy in the Capital.
There were indications that the new
plea. placing the request on q different
basis, might receive favorable consid-
GRAFTON, providing the committe prom
ised to hold the records Of the bureau
in strict confidence.
bureau EOhlOWeO AnStF0cBA0Ms.
The death inquiry was conducted by
the bureau under the personal direc-
ton of Inspector Thomas F. Cullen.
and the investigators obeyed the Attor-
ney Generals instructions to the letter.
1t is considered possible, however, that
in the course of questioning witnesses
concerning the death Of Mrs. McPher-
son, statements were volunteered or
facts were uncovered which would be
OF value to District officials in settling
the Shelby-Kelly matter, and 1t is for
that reason that Maj. Dawson and Mr.
Bride are hopeful of examining the
transcript of testimony.
1t Is known that some of the persons
who gave information to the Depart
ment Of Justice during the investiga-
ton of circumstances attending the
stFangling of Mrs. Mcpherson agreed
to talk only with the understanding
their statements would be held in con-
fldence. The department, in deciding
upon the latest request from the Dis
trict Building. must consider its ohliga-
tions to these persons. If Government
ofdcials feel they may turn over such
testimony solely for the confidential use
OF the municipal authorities, without
betraying any condolences. it is possible
the records, or certain portions OF them.
NAV be made available.
They will take into consideration,
also. the claim that the public interest
demands that the files be made avail
able to the Bride-Davison committee.
Allen Volunteers Services.
In the meantime Robert j. Allen, dis
missed polics man whose charges led to
the investigation of Shelby's and Kelly's
handling Of the Mcpherson case, has
volunteered to the Commissioners as O
complaining witness against the trans
ferred destective chiefs.
In the letter Allen called attention 10
the fact that he will give q public lee
ture on the Mcpherson case in the
Washington Auditorium Sunday night
and invited the Commissioners to be
present. Allen previously had written TO
Inspector Shelby asking him to debate
the case with him on the stage Of the
Auditorium. Shelby ignored the letter
Robert N. Harper, president of the
Auditorium corporation, said today he
had been advised by the manager OF the
nall that Allen had hired the Audi
torium for Sunday night at q cost Of
$500.