Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-25
new NURM| CASE
WITNESS IS FOUND;
FACES QUIZ ON GUN
Knows of Pistol From Which
Fatal Bullet May Have Been
Fired, Police Are Told.
BURDINE WILL QUESTION
8 OTHERS ON SHOOTING
Report Of Threat Made to Census
Clerk Is Being Investigated
by Authorities.

A new witness to the fatal shooting
Of Aarvi Nurmi, 24-year-old Census
Bureau clerk Wednesday night, who
police are informed knows of the exist
erce of a gun from which the fatal
bullet may have been fired, was dis
covered last night He probably will
be interviewed this evening by Sergt.
Earl H. Burdine of the Montgomery
County police, who is conducting the
investigation.
Sergt. Burdine also announced this
morning his intention to question three
other men, all living in Washington,
whom, he thinks, will be able to shed
light on events leading up to the flnd-
ing of Nurmi's body on the lawn Of
his Takoma Park home as the culnina-
ton Of drinking party there.
The police ofncer has little informa-
ton as to what he will earn from the
gun witness, he said today, but he has
been told that the man has definite
knowledge which will support his theory
that Nurmi was slain by gun other
than the automatic pistol found beside
his lifeless body. The weapon found
lying on the ground beside Nurmi Is
thought to have belonged to the dead
man. 1t was pearl handle, 25-caliber
automatic pistol.
Hopes 20 Trace Gun.
Sergt. Burdine previously had stated
that he had heard of the existence of
q 25-caliber gun owned by Henry w.
MCGUIRE. 20 years old, 1400 block of
Columbia road, one of the two men
charged with manslaughter in connec-
ton with Nurmi's death, but had no
proof to substantiate the rumor
He thinks that the new witness may
lead him ITO the gun or proudce proof
Of its existence and ownership by some
one acquainted with the slain Census
Bureau clerk.
One of the other witnesses Burdine
intends to question is said to have in
formation of q quarrel between Nurmi
and another man a short time before
the shooting, and another Is the taxi
cab driver who carried Nurmi, MCGUIRE
and John J. O'Brien, 26 years old, 1400
block Of Chaplin street, the third man
on the party, to Nurmi's home We'd
nesday night
Who the last witness Is or what in
formation he possesses is not known.
District police, however, received q tip
last night which they think will lead
them to q man who was heard to say
he could tell police something about the
case. A search for him Is being con-
Quoted today.
OBrien, who also is charged with
granddaughter, was released under 81 900
bond Saturday evening. MCGUIRE OBJ
tanned his release last night when Elmer
Humphrey Of suitland, Nd, posted
81 ZOO.
The report of a second gun is consid-
cred by police, Of particular Importance
In the light Of o statement by Stedman
Prescott, States attorney-elect for
Montgomery County, that, in his opin-
ION, the whole aspect of the case hinges
on whether Nurmi was killed with his
own or another gun.
Mr.. Prescott win be the prosecutor
for the county when the case will be
presented to a grand jury at Rockville
on the third Monday In March.
In expressing his views Of the shoot
ing, Mr.. Prescott made 1t plain that he
was not attempting to usurp his duties
before his term Of ONCE begins In jan
uary, but merely giving his personal
opinion. He said he is conducting no
Investigation, but is keeping in touch
with the pertinent facts that are
case intelligently TO the grand jury.
He asserted, however, that If no more
evidence Of homicide Is uncovered than
was presented to the coroner's jury
which held Nurrni was slain, he will
not feel jed In asking the grand
Jury to re an indictment against
MCGUIRE ar o'Brien.
Unwilling 70 Give Views.
Meanwhile the present States attor-
ney, Robert B. Peter. jr., was unwilling
TO give his views on the case. point
ing out that they would be meaningless
since he viii not be called upon to
prosecute.
Mr.. Peter and Mr.. Prescott have ar
ranged to take the gun found beside
Nurmi and the slug extracted from
his skull to the Bureau OF Standards
some time next week and have tests
made to show whether the bullet was
fired from the gun. The States at
torney-elect said he considered that this
test win prove the vital factor in the
investigation, the inference being that,
II the bullet was fired from Nurmi's
gun. he took his own life.
No date has been set for arraign-
ment in Police Court of MCGUIRE and
O'Brten, Mr.. Peter said this morning
although in the bonds for their release
their appearance Saturday morning was
specified. It Is thought, however, that
the preliminary hearing will be delayed
until the police investigation is further
advanced.
Washington police were investigating
Q report today that Nurmi had been
threatened because Of certain informa-
ton which he Is said to have been
about to reveal. An employee of the
Veterans Bureau was interviewed by
the police, but his information was
based on hearsay and ARRANGEMENTS
were made 10 bring about a meeting of
other persons said to have heard the
same story in an effort to run 1t down