Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
THIRD MAN IS HELD
IN CLERKS DEATH
Admits Being in Party Before
Nurmi Was Shot in
Takoma Park.

ANfOAthA1ttCN TWIN Etkbb EdHCJ
MCGUIRE related this monring, "and
then drove out to Nurmis home.
oBrien, whom met for the frst time
Wednesday, was to spend the night
there.
"All Of us we're drinking heavily, but
tried TO keep myself under control,
since I had to drive back to Washing
ton that night. On the way to Takoma
Park NuFmi told US of q wonderful pis-
toll he had. After we had been at his
home for some time, drinking, he got
it out to show it to US.
Says Shots Were Fired.
"He fired two shots into the floor of
the kitchen and then another one In
the cellar. Those are the only shots I
heard O'Brien passed out and Nurmi
went upstairs to get some cigarettes.
After short time O'Brien awoke and
I got ready. to leave. Before leaving
went upstairs to look for Nurmi, but
could not md him. ! searched the
house and finally found his body in the
driveway directly below his bed room
window. I Immediately assumed he had
fallen out Of the window and called the
police"
Mcguire said he had known Nurmi
for about six months, working at the
same department In the Census Bureau
with him. Nurmi's right arm was
crippled, he declared, and was carried
In 9 bent position.
II no further evidence Is uncovered
within the next few days, an inquest
VIII be held to determine the manner
Of Nurmi's death, States ATTORNEY
Robert B. Peter. jrn declared today. Al
though poliaa and Or. w. +. Pratt,
Montgomery County health officer,
stated freelE- that they Thought Nurnli
was mufderee, Mr.. Peter was hesitant
In giving an opinion on the ease. He
admitted. however, that all evidence
brought to light so far supports the
murder theory.
Inquest Issue Unsettled.
An inquest Is unusual in the Mont
gomeFy County legal procedure, the Gus
tom being to arraign the prisoner in
Police Court to be bound over To the
grand Jury II the States attorney
thinks there is SUFFICIENT evidence to
hold him. Mr.. Peter said that he Is
puzzled BY the case and can arrive at
no decision al to whether To lodge for
nal charges Of murder against either
MCGUIRE or (oBrien If an inquest Is
held, he said 1t viii probably be to-
utOfFOW OF MNnQaY.
Capt. JOSEPH Gissel. former States
attorney, and Kenneth Lyddane have
been retained by Mcclure as counsel
and have advised their client to refuse
to answer further questions put to him
by police. Capt. Cissel said that
O'Brien Is represented by Attorney H.
Stanley Slime of Washington.
We are net going to make any at
tempts to secure the realise of Me-
CURE" Capt. Cissel declared, until the
States attorney has had an oppor-
tunity TO complete his Investigation.
When he has done that think he will
ind that both MCGUIRE and O,Brien
had nothing to do with Nurmi's death"
No FingeFpFints Found.
The pearl-handled automatic pistol
with which Nurmi was apparently
killed failed to yield any flneerprints,
Sergt. Burdine said today. He took
the gun to Washington yesterday aft
eFn0on IN the hope that identification
experts OF the District Police Departs
ment would be able to bring out mars
MAIDS by the hand winch shot Nurnai
Any fnaerprints on the gun, however
had been erased by the blood in which