Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-13
Return of Maj. Pratt From
Hunting Trip Is Awaited
for Signature.
ACCUSED PAIR WAITED
AFTER HOURS YESTERDAY
Prosecuting Staff Spent Day Behind
Locked Doors Interview
ing Witnesses.

Inspector William S. Shelby and Lieut..
Edward ]. Kelly on which they are to
be tried by special police trial board
has been delayed and the latest word
on the subject is that the charges will
be served this afternoon.
Word went out yesterday from the
corporation counSel's Office, where the
charges are being drafted, that they
would be served late in the day. Kelly
and Shelby accordingly waited around
until long after Office hours, both OFF,
GERS being extremely anxious to have
the formalities out of the way. Around
5 o'clock there was frantic furry of
conferences, after which the officers
were told they would have to wait until
today. Meanwhile Maj. Henry G.
Pratt, who must sign the charges, has
gone duck hunting and the charges will
not be served until he gets back. His
return Is expected late this afternoon.
Accused by Grand Jury.
On October 3 the men were trans
ferred to other duties from their posts
with the Detective Bureau on the basis
of q report of the July grand jury
accusing them Of bungling the police
investigation into the death of Mrs. Vir-
ginia Hurley Mcpherson, whose body
was found in her apartment at the
Park Lane Apartments September IA.
The grand jury at the same time in
dicted Robert A. Mcpherson, jr., for
murder in connection with his WifeS
death, and the Commissioners, who
ordered the transfer of the men, decided
to wait until the Mcpherson trial was
out Of the way before taking up the
charges against Shelby and Kelly in
public trial.
The succeeding grand jury, however,
returned an ignoramuS in McPherSon'S
case, and the Commissioners set up
special trial board last week to bring
the accused officers to public trial. All
OF this week the prosecuting staff has
been busy on drafting the charges on
which the men are to be tried. Almost
daily there have been statements that
but always some hitch has developed.
Many Witnesses Interviewed.
Yesterday, after spending the entire
day behind locked doors interviewing
witnesses, the prosecuting staff, con-
SiSting of Assistant Corporation Coun-
sells Robert E. Lynch and Walter L.
Fowler, conferred with their chief, Will
liam w. Bride. Mr.. Bride made an
effort to see Commissioner Sydney F.
Taliaferro, who, however, had left for
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty,
with no better luck. Finally he found
Acting Engineer Commissioner Donald
A. Dawson and with him he went to
see Maj. Henry G.. Pratt.
May Alter Charges.
After q brief conference with Mai,
Pratt. Mr.. Bride then said that the
charges which would be preferred
against the men would be identical
with those recommended by him and
as special board assigned by the
Commissioners to recommend what dis
position to make of the case.
These charges were largely that the
men had neglected to take f1ngerprints,
to take notes, to see that the furniture
in the apartment remained undiSturbed
etc.
Today, however, there was some talk
OF leaving out some of the Bride-Davi-
son charges, on which the committee
reported that no corroborating EVIL
dence could be found. Whether this
will be done still remains in doubt.
The trial OF the two men Is expected
to be held next Wednesday at the sixth
precinct station. It had previously been
arranged to hold it Monday, but James
O'Shea, counsel for Lieut. Kelly, will
be engaged in a case in District Su-
preme Court on that day.
Allen To Give Testimony.
Former Policeman Robert j. Allen
will give the prosecutors whatever in
formation he possesses regarding al
legged delinquencies of the officers, but
he will first present it to the public In
a speech Sunday night so that no one
in the District Building can success
fully direct that 'whitewaSh' of Shelby
and Kelly be perpetrated on the people
of Washington"
Allen told Assistant Corporation
Counsel Fowler this in letter received
this morning. Fowler, who will repre-
trial, had written asking Allen, severe
critic Of the officers, to testify at their
trial.
Aliens letter states in part:
81 shall be very glad indeed to fur
nish you with whatever facts and data
have, but must beg your indulgence
until after my speech on the matter
at the Auditorium Sunday night, which
you are cordially invited to attend.
my address will be full and complete
and, while I believe that newspaper
accounts the next day may answer your
purpose, am perfectly willing to dis
cuSs the matter with you in as great
detail as possible"
To assure Fowler that he really meant
what he said, the former policeman
sent two tickets to the function at the
Auditorium with his letter.
Allen Is to appear with Senator Cole
BleaSe Of South Carolina, who will
speak on why the Washington Police
Force Is the Talk of the Nation" In
paid advertisements Allen says he will
discuss the mysterious f1ngerprints in
the Scrivener case. the destruction Of
evidence in the Mcpherson case, and
the suicide of Policeman Montgomery
Also q discussion of the Kelly-Shelby
charges"