Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-18

Continued From First Page)
Scrivener was shot failed to correspond
with Scrivener's flngerprint.
This fractional print was checked
against the fingerprint Of numerous
members Of the Police Department and
other persons in an unsuccessful effort
to learn whose print it was. 1t was
conceded by certain Investigators that
this print might have been placed on
the weapon accidentally after Scriven-
er's body was found. Witnesses testi-
fled, however, that no one had handled
the pistol except with pair of pliers.
Included among the witnesses we're
various ofncialS of the Police Depart
ment who participated in the investiga-
ticn which followed the finding Of
Scrivener'S body. Also among those
called were close friends Of the detec-
tive, girls with whom he had been
friendly, several physicians, flngerprint
experts and firearms experts.
Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly, former chief
OF the homicide squad, was in the
grand jury room more than two hours.
More time was devoted to his testimony
than to that of any other witness.
While he declined to reveal what he
planned to testify, he Is known to have
been the chief supporter Of the suicide
GhCOAJs k1C IGSIlllCu "a tLllB GuNGt
at coroner'S inquest shortly after
Scrivener's death.
Kelly expressed the opinion at that
time that tie, torn in halves found In
Scrivener'S hand when his body was
discovered, was merely part of q shrewd
scheme by Scrivener to make his death
look like murder. Other witnesses
said Scrivener had told them he could
XIII himself and leave clues which would
indicate he had been slain.
Liquor Theft RumOrs Probed.
The grand jury is known to have
investigated reports that Scrivener was
murdered at the direction Of higher-upS
OF the police department because he
Is said to have been investigating the
alleged theft of liquor from the police
department property room.
The grand jury's report indicated
insufficient evidence had been produced
to confirm such charges.
After being dormant nearly three
years following the coroner's investi-
cation, the case was revived as a re-
suit OF information reported to United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover which
caused him to believe there was SUI
f1cient doubt concerning the circum-
stances surrounding Scrivener's death
to warrant a grand jury investigation.
Rover attached so much importance
to the case that he took personal
charge of the exapination OF witnesses
In addition to the new evidence in
troduced by the social worker. another
factor said to have impressed the grand
jury was the course of the bullet that
killed Scrivener. In view of the marked
grade in the alley and Scrivener's con-
siderable heighth, the downward course
OF the bullet through his heart would
have made 1t necessary, experts report
ed, for an aSSailant to have held the
Ties Break at Knot.
1t also was reported that scientists
Of the Bureau of Standards learned it
would be almost impossible to tear q
necktie in half at the back of the neck.
Tests made in many cases showed that
the tie invaribly broke next to the knot
The Scrivener tie was broken in the
back. The Bureau Of Standards wit
nesses told Of conducting tests on ma
chimes Of known Lulling power on ties
similar in texture and type to the
Scrivener case cravat before deciding
1t was not plausible to believe the de-
tectiVe could have ripped the tie from
the neck of an aSsailant.
In contradiction Of the suicide theory,
q physician who attended ScriVener,
while not disclosing the ailment for
which he was treating the detective,
stated that Scrivener had no disease
that would compel him to take his own
life. This witness testified twice, being
recalled after other persons had offered
testimony that seemed to clash with
that of the doctor.
While Rover declined to make q
1t was generally believed in
oficial circles that the grand jury re-
port was amply supported by evidence
produced during the examination CT
witnesses and that no further oficial
of the Detectives death a
were likely to be undertaken.