Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-25
GRAND Jury FINDS
DREYFUS DEATH IS
ACCIDENTS RESULT
Extraordinary Report Made
in Case After Investigation
Lasting Month.
PROSECUTOR LAUDED
FOR PROBE CONDUCT
Conflicting Testimony Reported
Given by Witnesses Before
Inquisitorisl Body.

An accident was responsible for the
death of Mrs. Aurelia Fischer Dreyfus,
attractive young divorce, who plunged
20 feet to her death at the Potomac
Boat Club the night of october 20 last,
grand jury reported today after
spending more than month investi-
eating the case
The extraordinary report submitted to
Justice Peyton Gordon of the District
Supreme Court follows:
To the Honorable Justices:
I'VE, the members of the grand jury
for the January term, 1880, now in ses-
sion, beg leave to report to this honor
able court that we have thoroughly in
vestigated the facts, circumstances and
conditions pertaining to the death of
one Aurelia Fischer Dreyfus, whose
death occurred at the Emergency Hos
pital on October 20, 1929.
That the members of this body
began their investigation on the 3rd
day OF February, 1880, during which
time there appeared before us Al wit
of the Fischer family.
Compliments Attorney.
THAT a most careful consideration
was made through the questioning of
said witnesses as well as a visit of the
grand jury to the scene of the accident
which resulted in her death.
That the district attorneys Office
lett no stone unturned to bring before
this body every witness who to its
knowledge was familiar with any of the
acts or circumstances.
Ihat after full and careful de-
liberation, we, the members of this
body, arrived at the conclusion that the
said Aurel1a Fischer Dreyfus came to
her death on said goth day of October
through accident.
Respectfully submitted for the grand
jury. LESLIE B. FARMER.
Foreman"
The reference in the grand il1rv,s
report to the district attorneys office
was considered as a compliment to Neil
j. Burkinshaw, assistant United States
attorney IN charge of the grand Jury
investigation. Mr. Burkinshaw made
several trips to New York and other
cities In search of witnesses.
Ordered by Rover.
The Investigation was ordered some
time ago by United States ATTORNEY
Leo A. Rover. after a series of aff1davits
mad been submitted to him by members
OF the immediate family of Mrs. Drey-
tus. The relatives limited the Young
woman had been slain because She
knew too much" about the murder of
Dot" King, New York night club en-
tertainer, several years ago.
The afhdavits charged Edmund ]. Nc
Brlen, New York broker, who escorted
Mrs. Dreyfus to the boat club the night
OF the tragedy, had threatened her on
numerous occasions. The relatives also
argued McBrien had beaten and other
wise abused Mrs. Dreyfus previously.
McBrien was exonerated of any con-
nection with Mrs. Dreyfus' death at a
coroner's inquest last Fall, which also
resulted in verdict of accidental death.
He explained at that time that he had
left Mrs. Dreyfus on the boat house
porch while he went after his hat and
ner wraps, only to return and learn she
had fallen to the platform below. A
young couple on the porch at the time
corroborated McBrien's story.
Testimony Conflicts.
A large amount of conflicting testi-
nlony is reported to have been offered
before the grand jury. Several wit
neSses are said to have declared they
were positive they had seen finger
marks on Mrs. Dreyfus' neck after She
dled. Others were equally certain there
had been no marks OF this Character.
Included among the witnesses were
numerous relatives of Mrs. Drevfus. sew
eral physicians, an imposing array of
detectives and group of boat club
employees.
Mrs. Dreyfus was the divorced wife
OF Herbert Dreyfus, millionaire New
YORK nnancier and clubman. She was
widely known for her beauty and
charm She was a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Carl Fischer of KeriIworth. d. g,