Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-28
Investigators in SheIby-Kelly
Case Ask to See Transcript
in Mcpherson Case.
EXPECT NO COMMENT
FROM DEPARTMENT
Agents Did Not Inquire Into Con-
dut of Police in Han
cling Murder.

In view Of the claim that the public
interest and the proper administration
of justice in a grave police problem OF
national concern are involved, 1t ap-
peared today that Attorney General
Mitchell might act favorably tomorrow
on the request of District officials for
permission to examine records of the
Department of Justice in the McPher-
son case, in connection with the Shelby
Kelly probe.
If the request is granted, it will be
with the understanding that in so doing
the Government is taking no sides with
regard to grand jury charges of ineffl-
cheney against Inspector William S.
Shelby and Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly, and
that any information in the depart
mentS files of interest in the contro-
verSy was obtained only incidental to
the attempt to solve the mystery Of Mrs.
Virginia McPherson's death.
1t Is known the Department of
Justice Is reluctant to be drawn into
the local police tangle growing out of
the Mcpherson case. The Attorney
General, in agreeing to take over the
investigation of the Park Lane DEATH
warned the Bureau of Investigation to
avoid all collateral controversies and to
devote its. efforts solely toward solution
Of the strangling mystery.
No Comment Expected.
It is doubtful that Federal officials
will express an opinion as to whether
their records contain data pertinent TO
the Shelby-Kelly inquiry. In the event
1t is decided to permit Mai. Donald A
Dawson and w. w. Bride, conducting
the police inquiry, TO examine the files,
1t is likely the bureau authorities mere
~ will make tibet transcript of testimony
nit 1sN0H
ment.
Ohicials have pointed out that In
investigating the Mcpherson tragedy
the admonition of the Attorney General
with respect to collateral controversies"
was obeyed strictly, and that the record
Of the investigation therefore has to do
only with circumstances attending the
death of the nurse. District officials
are said to believe, however, that the
record may throw light on the charges
of the July grand jury that valuable
evidence was destroyed
In its Scathing attack on the dis
trict attorneys Office and the police the
grand jury charged that a guard placed
at the door of the Mcpherson apart
ment to prevent the death scene from
being disturbed was removed by order
Of the district attorneys ONCE and that
permission was given by Lieut.. Kelly,
"for the removal or destruction of Ger
tain evidence before it was possible to
have completed q thorough investiga-
ton"
May Show Distribution.
The commissioners are understood to
feel that If any evidence was destroy
ed, the records Of the Department of
Justice may disclose it.
The request for Federal assistance
was made to Attorney General Mitchell
in letter from the Dictrict commits
sioners, dispatched at the suggestion
of the Bride-DaviSon committee. Pie
viously members of the committee had
failed in an informal effort to obtain
information from the department. The
preliminary move was conference
with ]. Edgar Hoover, director of the
Bureau of Investigation, and Thomas
F. Cullen, inspector In charge of the
Mcpherson probe. These officials are
understood to have advised the local
authorities of the attorney generals
instructions against going into eX-
traneous phases of the Mcpherson case
and that any such request would have
to be taken up direct with Mitchell.
The attorney general had the letter
OF the commissioners on his desk yes
terday, but did not have time to act
on 1t. He Is expected to refer it to-
morrow morning to Director Hoover
for his recommendation. The latter is
ready to act promptly and 1t Il thought
the commissioners will receive a reply
sometime later in the day.