Evening star., 1929-12-19
HEARING is TOLD
OF SEARCH FOR FINGER PRINTS

| land said, adding that the official had
inferred 1t was case of suicide"
He said he. did not hear Kelly say
anything to the deputy coroner about
having an autopsy performed.
Collier, a reporter of The Star, who
covered the Mcpherson case, followed
Kneeland on the witness stand and
through questions by Prosecutor Fowler
sketched his visits to the Mcpherson
apartment.
Tells of Observations.
Collier said he first visited the
apartment on the afternoon of the cor
oner's inquest, accompanied by John
| Snure, a former Star reporter, and
former Policeman Allen. Asked about
his observations, the witness said he saw
large smear of blood about the size of
dinner plate on the bathroom floor.
In the bedroom, he said, he saw what
appeared to be two thin spots of blood
on the floor.
Collier admitted he had handled sew
eral articles in the apartment. including
magazines and papers. Il just made
the general cursory inspection" he
added.
After leaving the apartment. Collier
said he went to The Star office in COM
pany with Snure and Allen and reported
to his city editor what he had found.
AfterWard, he said, the group went to
the Office of William H. Collins, assist
ant United States Attorney, and with
him returned to the apartment.
Once again, about two days later,
Collier said, he returned to the apart
ment with Snure and Lieut.. Kelly.
Asked by Fowler what he did on this
visit, he replied that Kelly explained
certain conditions in the apartment.
Later, Collier said, he discussed the
case with Shelby and Kelly.
Tell us the conversation between
you and Inspector Shelby and Lieut..
Kelly" Fowler asked.
"Snure and visited Kelly and Shelby
for the purpose of clearing up in our
minds certain phases of the case which
seemed TO be peculiar. We wanted to
know if they would explain these ap-
| parent discrepancies. Both were very
courteous and willing to do so.
Willing to Investigate.
II think both gained the idea that
we were getting ready to write sensa-
| ttonal story. That was not the case at
all. Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly
both said that although the coroner's
| jury had decided the case suicide, it
was still open on the homicide books
| and they were willing to investigate any
new angle that might be developed.
"1 told them two things seemed
strange TO me. One was the position
of the body against the door and the
| other was a bloodStain on the bath
| room floor. I think we indicated that
did not understand those two angles
of the case.
Both Kelly and Shelby then went
into detailed explanation of the case
and Kelly went over the whole course
he had taken in his invstigation."
LAS result of your conversation did
you go away with the impression that
Shelby and Kelly had arrived at any
definite conclusion?" Fowler asked.
THE only thing they said was that
the case is still open on the homicide
books" Collier answered.
Quizzed by Shelby Lawyer.
Subjected to examination by Attorney
| Quinn, one of Shelby's lawyers, as to
Aliens activities in the apartment, Col
lier said the former policeman was busy
in the apartment propounding his
theories.
"He is full of those, isn't he?" Quinn
asked.
Yes, sir" Collier responded.
Subsequently, Quinn asked Collier II
he had sought any additional inforna-
ton from Allen as to what he had
learned in his independent investigation
of the case.
"You didn't have to ask him any
thing" Collier replied. He volunteered
| his information
The stenographic transcript of Aliens
| talk at the Washington Auditorium on
the Mcpherson case was then produced
| by Quinn and he read from 1t excerpts
of the former policeman'S address which
referred to Golfers investigation and
his conversation with Allen.
Collier was asked how Allen got into
the apartment the day Collier and
Snure accompanied him.
Amusing Incident.
Collier explained that it was rather
an amusing incident. "On the way to
the apartment asked Allen If reporters
would have any trouble getting inside
Collier said. Allen told him, "No, I'll
| tell Ruff you are friends of mine"
| "Allen introduced me to Ruff as Mr.
| Hoover of the Department of Justice and
Snure as an associate" Collier said.
you are sure you weren't introduced
as President Hoover" asked O'Shea.
Collier explained that he regarded the
eral occasions Allen forget to call him
''Mr. Hoover" in the presence Of Ruff
and mentioned his real name.
Prosecution counsel objected to the
| line of testimony as waste of time, u
but O'Shea Indignantly denied time was
being wasted. He contended the de-
fense wanted to prove that only au-
thoriZed persons, such as reporters OF
police. were admitted to the apartment
Collier said he was in conference with
Shelby and Kelly from about 9:30
o'clock until about o'clock. He knew
the hour because he was surprised al
the lapse of time.
On his third visit to the apartment
the prosecution asked the reporter 4
the blood spot was still on the floor as
he had seen them before. Collier
thought 1t had been removed.
Ruff was in the room with Collier anC
Allen and probably heard the policeman
refer to the alleged Mr.. Hoover a:
Collier, the witness testified.
Policeman Allen repeatedly told hin
that he could give the names CT wit
nesseS who would prove it was Q mur.
der case, Collier said, in reply to the
question. He thought Allen had giver
him the names of the janitor and Of
Miss Conway.
O'Shea interrupted with a question
Isn't 1t fact that you went to the
apartment with Kelly at one time tt
get information about the blood stain