Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-22
SURGEONS CONFIRM
CHOKING OF NURSE
No Evidence of Other Cause
of Death Revealed in
Mcpherson. Case.

The Department of Justice today re-
ceived from surgeons who conducted
the second autopsy on the body of Mrs
Virginia Mcpherson an official state
ment confirming a preliminary report
that surgical examination of the corpse
had failed to disclose a fractured skull
or other evidences of violence, than
those produced by pajama belt gar
rote."
Despite the apparent failure of the
surgical examination to verify local
physicians opinion that the girl may
have suffered other injuries, Federal
authorities investigating the mystery of
her death are maintaining much
secrecy concerning a set OF X-ray Pho
tographs of the body.
A preliminary study of the roentgen
plates by ineXpert persons Is reported TO
have disclosed something" not visible
to the eyes of the surgeons who con-
Quoted the new autopsy in Kannapolts-
N. G. officials in charge of the case
have refused to confirm or deny this
report, pending an examination OF the
photographs by certain experts.
Not at Department.
John E. Laskey, special assistant to
the attorney general, appointed to
prosecute Robert A. Mcpherson, jr.,
husband of the dead nurse, said today
the report of the roentgenologists has
not yet come to the Department Of JUS
tice. He refused to disclose where the
plates were taken for study after being
received here a week ago.
Mr.. Laskey said the autopsy also
showed no evidence Of an illegal opera
ton, thus definitely settling one of the
many rumors circulated since the girls
death in her bedroom at the Park Lane
Apartments, more than month ago.
The prosecutor said he had not re-
ceived a report of pathologistS, who
have been testing certain tissues for
possible evidence Of poison or drugs.
The formal report of the surgeons
who performed the autopsy was sent
here by DR.. James I. Bullitt, professor
of pathology at the University of North
Carolina, who was in charge Of the cx-
animation. The body was exhumed at
| China Grove, ". c., after Washington
| physician had told the Department -
Justice he believed the original autopsg
might have overlooked the possibility of
skull fracture.
Trying to Sift Facts.
With great piles of typewriter testi-
mony before them the Federal 1nveSti-
gators have begun the task of sitting
| through the mass of facts, reports, ru-
| morS and suspicious Volceu py more
| than 300 witnesses.
| Most of the work of taking testimony
bearing on the case has been completed.
| Only a small circle Of persons remains to
be questioned. The Justice agents have
a great deal of outside" investigating
| to do, however. They have yet to talk
! with Mcpherson, who stands charged
| with his wife's murder as a result of
! the findings of grand jury. McPher-
sons attorney has said he would not
oppose an interview between his client
I and the Government representatives.
When all loose ends have been COL
lected, the agents will report their find
F. sng3 to Prosecutor Laskey for any
conclusions he may wish to draw from
the facts in hand. Thomas F. Cullen, in
charge Of the investigation under j.
Edgar Hoover, director of the Bureau
of Investigation. said today he will at
tempt to state no conclusion in his re-
port to Laskey. Indications at this time
are that no definite conclusions are
possible.