Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
WOMAN'S DEATH
HELD ACCIDENTAL
Companion of Mrs. Dreyfus
Released From Custody
After Inquest.
From the $40 Edition of Yesterdays Star.

From the sac Edition Of Yesterdays Star.
The death of Mrs. Aurelia Fischer
Dreyfus, divorced young wife of we'll
TODD New York broker, was held ac-
cidental by coroner's jury which this
afternoon conducted an inquest into
the case, that was marked by testi-
mony by sister of Mrs. Dreyfus that
both their lives had been threatened
by Edmund J. McBrien, Mrs. Dreyfus'
companion at the Potomac Boat Club,
where fall from balcony early Sum
day caused her fatal injuries. She also
said she had seen him hit her sister.
The jury. after examining 20 wit
nesses more than three hours, took only
10 minutes TO reach the verdict, which
automatically exonerated McBrien.
The latter. 30-year-old New York
security salesman, one year Mrs. Drey-
fus' senior. declined to make a state
ment after he was freed by policemen
from No. IL precinct, where he was
held since Sunday morning.
Accused McBrien Of Threats.
The lengthy testimony was climaxed
toward the close of the hearing when
Mrs. Elsie Knorr of the 1900 block of
Biltmore street, Mrs. Dreyfus' sister,
took the stand and accused McBrien
Of having made threats against her
life and against the life of the woman
now dead. Mrs. Knorr declared she was
present on one occasion when McBrien
knocked Mrs. Dreyfus down with his
fist.
She further related that McBrien
made direct threat upon her life
about four months ago because. she
said, he had the idea that she was try
ing to come between himself and Mrs.
Dreyfus
The story of feud of seven years
standing between the sisters of Mrs.
DreyfuS and McBrien, whom they
charge broke up the formers home,
was related by Mrs Louise Reinberger
Of Cleveland, Ohio, and Freda Fisher,
other sisters of the dead woman.
Death Story substantiated.
The meticulous testimony of the score
Of witnesses examined during the aft
ernoon suhstantiated the previous story
Of the death as related to police Sun
day.
Mr.. McBrien was represented by At
torneys Wilbert Mc1nerney and l.. H.
Vandoren. When asked at the conclu-
sion Of the hearing II they wished their
client to make q voluntary statement,
Attorney McInerney replied that he
would leave the matter up to the Jury.
A juryman requested Mr.. McBrien to
take the stand, which he did.
ViSibly nervous and somewhat shaken
by the excitement he has undergone
since Sunday morning, McBrien took
his seat in the witness chair and retold
the story he told homicide detectives
after he gave himself up to police.
McBrien readily admitted that he
and the three young people who accom-
panied him to the dance had been
drinking prior to the tragedy. He said
that the two girls, Mrs. Dreyfus and
Miss Fisher, took several drinks with
himself and william Fisher. their
brother. Toward o'clock, Nc
Brien said, he asked Mrs. Dreyfus to
sit on the balcony. where they could
have a few drinks without attracting
attention.
McBrien left her on the balcony
seated in a chair and went after his hat
and coat when the dance ended, he de-
clared. Returning, he found that
general alarm had spread and hastened
10 the DRIcony 10 ma She had 1aIlen.
Newman Questions Witnesses.
witnesses we're questioned to con-
siderable extent by II. H. Newman of
the United States district attorneys |
office.
The first witness summoned by
Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt was DR.. John |
Swartzman of the Emergency Hospital /
staff, who attended Mrs. Dreyfus after |
she was brought to the hospital about !
2 o'clock Sunday morning DR.. Swartz- |
man said that the woman talked &C. |
casionally in delirium, but never uttered |
any coherent statement that he heard. |
Virginia Leftwich. attending nurse, |
said she heard Mrs. Dreyfus mutter in |
coherently and that she was able to |
detect the words he wouldn't give me |
q chance"
DR.. Joseph D. Rogers, deputy coroner,
testified the autopsy disclosed that Mrs |
Dreyfus had died OF ruptured liver.