Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
TRUE STORY OF MCPHERSON CASE
MAKES REAL MYSTERY THRILLER

Allen in support of his murder corlten-
tons were answered, more or less plaus-
IDLY. by Kelly and Shelby. Finally.
Lieut. Kelly took the reporters In the
headquarters car to the death apart
ment once more, to clinch his argu-
ments on various angles, and went over
the case there.
Out of this conference the reporters
emerged more befuddled than ever.
They bluntly informed Inspector Shelby
and Lieut. Kelly that while they were
not convinced Mrs. Mcpherson had
been murdered. neither, we're they con-
WINGED she committed suicide. They
were sure. however, there did not then
exist sufiicient evidence Of murder to
lay any suspicion against any one.
Both Shelby and Kelly emphasized
that they. too, realized the case had
peculiar angles; that the case was
still open on the books" and that any
additional informa ton pointing toward
murder would be investigated carefully.
The Star decided TO withhold publi-
cation of Aliens theories until there
was something more tangible to sup
port them
Mr.. Collins. the assistant District at
torney. decided to drop the case unless
there were further developments.
But Officer Allen would not drop II.
He went to the ONCE of Senator Over
man of North Carolina. from whose
district Mrs. Mcpherson had come and
whose secretary had attended, at the
Senator's request. the Inquest.
Officer Allen convinced the Senator
that there was something peculiar about
the whole proceeding. The Senator had
his secretary call The Star and two
Star reporters Immediately went to his
once and into conference with the
Senator's secretary. The reporters told
the Senator's secretary what they had
found. While the secretary was study
ing what to do q telephone call came
sent to District Attorney Rover stating
that 1t was understood that certain
information was in possession of the
District attorney which, IL true. would
tend to disprove the theory that Mrs.
Mcpherson had committed suicide The
Senator urged Mr.. Rover to continue
the investigation.
Following publication Of this letter
the town began to buzz and detective
eide squad was turned loose on the
case. Inspector Shelby asked the
coroner to reopen the inquest. The
coroner didn't think that would be
legal. but decided he could do II with
the same jury that sat in the original
inquest. Mr.. Rover was consulted and
Mr.. Rover said 1t would be better not
TO try to reopen the inquest. So that
was dropped and Mr.. Rover decided to
bring the case before the grand jury.
Allen Gets New Informal ton.
On last Monday, the day before the
grand jury began taking testimony
Allen received informa ton that q man
by the name of Gauthey. in Ardmore.
Md, had entertained persons resembling
Mr.. and Mrs. Mcpherson at his home
on the night that Mrs. Mcpherson was
supposed to have ended her life. Allen.
with q Star reporter. started for Ard
more. taking photographs. and Gauthey
told him the persons in the photograph
resembled those who had been In his
place on the fatal night.
Allen took Gauthey and rushed back
to town. They went to the bank where
Mr.. Mcpherson is employed and Allen
called the young man from his work.
When Mcpherson declined to come with
him. Allen told him he was under ar
rest. But about that time Gauthey
spoke up and said he had never seen
Mcpherson before, and that he was
certainly not the man who had visited
his place.
In the meantime. Mr.. Mcpherson.
phone booth and telephoned his father.
and Allen. without a word as TO what
ne would do with his prisoner de-
parted also. Allen ran past a stop sig
nal and collided with truck. A traf1c
policeman. examining his permit said
"Ah! So. you. are Allen. Inspector
Shelby has been looking for you all
day" and. In response to a general look
out sent out from detective headquar-
tiers. asking officers 10 apprehend Allen,
he started with him to headquarters.
Mcpherson also went Immediately to
headquarters to see what his arrest"
meant. He found that 1t did not mean
anything. as far as headquarters was
concerned, but while there he came
face to face with Allen and there was
short, but heated exchange Of words.
Relieved Of Polite Authority.
Allen. at headquarters. was suspended
from the force and relieved of his police
authority.
Then the grand jury began its hear
ings. More witnesses have been called
than in any case since the Wan case.
famous Chinese murder investigation.
And more conflicting stories have come
out Of the grand jury room where
everything Is supposed to be strictly
secret, than the average newspaper
reporter can keep up with. Detective
headquarters has been more or less
demoralized. and the case has somehow
simmered down to a finish fight be-
tween Allen and the Police Depart
ment. II Allen wins, Inspector Shelby
has promised him a detective sergeancy.
II he loses. Mr.. Allen will have num-
Der OF things to explain before the
trial board. which in recent years has
hi Ill 70
Whether any new evidence has been
brought before the grand jury remains
for that body to make known later.
Some of the witnesses have made
statements that, on their face, add
weight to Aliens theory-that Is. state
ments to reporters. What they told
the grand jury, of course. remains
secret.
Allen himself has made the most
startling statement of many startling
statements. He now says that he, him
house on the night that Mrs. Mcpherson
Is supposed to have come to her death.
He did not tell the reporters, with whom
he worked on the preliminary angles OF
the case, of that most important fact
Nor did he tell District Attorney Col
Inns
Was Mrs. Mcpherson strangled to
death by her own hand, or by the hand
of some one unknown to Allen, the
Police Department and the grand jury?
Is Allen. responsible through his own
efforts for this unprecedented investi-
CATION, riding to glory or to a fall?
The sequel to this story will be writ
ten within the next few days by the
grand jury.
SHELBY RECALLED