Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-12
Baker and Mcpherson Cases
Omitted in List of Three
UnSoIved Deaths.
HIGH PRAISE is GIVEN
KELLY BY INSPECTOR
Law Sanctioning Pawnbrokers to
Aid Detectives and Drug
Legislation Advised.

Pointing to the Detective Bureaus
record of cleaning up all but Of the
Al homicidea in the District in the past
year, committed with criminal or feloni-
Gus intent, as "a remarkable record
and one OF which the department and
the public might we'll feel proud" In
spector William S. Shelby, chief of the
bureau, today submitted his annual re-
port of the activities of the bureau to
Maj Henry G. Pratt, superintendent
of police.
The Mary Baker murder case is not
listed as an unsolved crime. There is
no reference to the death of Mrs. Vir-
ginia Mcpherson, one of the years mys-
teries, which ultimately was held by
grand jury to be suicide.
The detective chief closes his report
saying: j..
IAN analysis of the figures presented
in this report indicates clearly the
amazing accomplishments of this bu-
reau during the past fiscal year. Not
withstanding bitter, and for the most
part unjust, criticism, members Of this
command have stood four-square to
all the winds that blew and have rem
dered a conscientious and effective
public service"
Lieut.. Kelly Praised Highly.
The Mary Baker case and the murder
of Federal Prohibition Agent Lamar
Watson York are pointed out by In
Spector Shelby as the outstanding cases
handled by the homicide squad OF the
bureau during the year.
For Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly, chief OF
the homicide squad, who was under fire
with his chief during the Mcpherson
death investigation, Inspector Shelby
has high praise, saying:
st commend the homicide and safe
squad of this bureau for its untiring de-
votion to duty and for the unselflsh
manner in which the members Of this
SQUAD, under the able and effective
leadership of Lieut.. Kelly, have re-
sponded to numerous calls for service
entailing long hours, great danger and
much discomfort"
The three homicide cases listed as not
cleared up and closed are as follows:
Murder of Christos Haralampidis,
Greek restaurant keeper, found, his
skull crushed from brick, in the
premises at Sill Ninth street, January
4. two men known to police, wanted for
the crime.
Staying of Freddie Cooper, colored.
April 20, at $500 street, man wanted
for Staying known to police.
Staying on May II. of Sadie e.
Bradley, colored, at 149 A street north
east, by her husband, Roy Bradley,
colored.
OF the safe robbery and attempted
safe robbery cases handled by this
squad, Inspector Shelby reports that a
total of ga cases were reported and IL
have been closed through arrests Of the
guilty persons.
AlligoOd Receivers 800 Cars.
The automobile squad of the bureau,
he reports, has a record to be proud of.
OF the 3,049 automobiles reported stolen,
$40 have been recovered by the squad,
while 288 have not been found. In
tabulating the work of the individual
members of the squad Inspector Shelby
shows that Detective Sergt. Frank ALI
good Is credited with recovering more
Of the squad combined. Alligood has a
record of 800 automobiles recovered,
while the other four members of the
squad are credited with recovering 259.
Precincts are credited with recovering
827 cars; owners, GA; reposSessed by
finance companies, los. A total of
2,766 cars Is reported recovered.
The check squad of the bureau, In
spector Shelby reports, has had an I'M
usually UuSy year, IldLulIlB 40t cases
involving various offenSeS, securing $50
convictions and having 43 cases pend
ing.
The pharmacy and narcotic squad,
he reports, has performed valuable
work, making in the past year 1920 Of
fetal visits to drug stores, dental Offices,
Offices and other places and
making 1,044 investigations. A total
Of 1873 arrests is reported for this squad.
Under Detective Sergt. c. p. Cox the
clothing squad is reported to have per
formed most effective service"
This squad arrested 372 persons and
obtained 279 convictions.
The bureau of lost property, he re-
ports, recovered during the year prop
erty valued at $38,783.
AS a result of the efforts of the
Sanitary Bureau, Inspector Shelby says,
426 petitions for writs de lunatico in
quirendo were filed in court, with the
result that 357 patients were adjudged
insane and sent to st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital for treatment.
Arrest Bureaus Work Reviewed.
The Record of Arrest Bureau, he
reports, during the fiscal year estab-
lished and filed 81, 263 cards recording
arrests, established and filed 1888
warrant record cards and made search
and filed 9,057 records for the courts
and various foreign jurisdictions and
for the Federal departments.
The Criminal Identification Bureau
did vast amount Of routine work
during the year, supplying the depart
ment with all the necessary informa-
ton at its command in all cases, iden-
titled two previously unidentified dead
by means Of fingerprintS, completed a
file of the entire Police Department
and did considerable Work~for Federal
departments here.
Closing his report. Inspector Shelby
declares again for the enactment of q
law which will permit pawn brokers to
operate in the District, pointing out
that considerable percentage of
stolen goods finds its way into these
shops, IS properly reported and thereby
recovered and in many instances the
thief apprehended.
He calls for more particular atten-
ton on the part of the precincts in Sc
curing adequate fingerprints from those
arrested and asks that this form OF
identification be taken in the precincts
by experts whose testimony will be &C
cepted by the courts.
Drug Legislation Advised.
He also asks an additional private be
assigned to the pharmacy and narcotic
squad to tighten the excessive duties Of
that squad.
Need of legislation making drug adj
diction a felony in the District Is par
ticularly stressed by Inspector Shelby.
He says:
"It is generally conceded that the
narcotic evil strikes at the very vitals
of society, and as long as drug addicts
are permitted at large they constitute
an eyer-increasing danger to public