The Washington times., 1930-01-04
SHELBY TAKES
STAND IN HIS
DEFENSE
(COntinusd from Page One)
adjust a matter in regard to
some parking tickets"


Shelby Strikes Table
AS he made the statement In
Spector Shelby struck the table
with his fist and his voice rose
almost to shout.
The accused officer also
charged that the Corporation
CounsePs office had prejudged
Kelly and himself guilty Of the
"bungling" charges. His state
ment followed a question by his
counsel as to what became Of
notebook in which a statement
by Allen had been taken. Shelby
replied:
ut was taken by the office Of
the corporation counsel. We
were Immediately declared guilty
of all these absurd charges and
our papers seized with avidity."
Answer Stricken Out
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Lynch Immediately moved to
strike out Shelby's answer and it
was removed from the record with
the consent Of the defense coun-
sci.
Inspector Shelby declared that
he had no recollection of having
been questioned in regard to the
presence of stenographerS in the
Grand Jury room during the Nc
Pherson investigation. He de-
clared that he made no statement
regarding the alleged presence of
stenographerS and added that
they were not in the room while
he was there.
The officer was asked If he
made any statement in regard to
fingerprints and replied:
by their questions the Grand
Jury indicated to rue that they
understood that no finger-printS
had been looked for. They did
not ask me-"
What did you say when they
suggested no finger-prints were
looked for?"
That an error had been
made"
Shelby declared in response to
questions that he did not use the
word "bungled." He added that
the word was repugnant to him.
In an attempt t0 disprove the
allegation that he and Kelly con-
Quoted the inquiry into the homi-
eide in an "unbuSiness-like and in
efficient manner" Inspector
chief Of police told in the most
minute detail of the work which
he and other officers performed
on the famous case.
Kelly is the best investigator
in the police department and the
equal Of any investigator in any
department." Shelby asserted.
Shelby said he first heard of
the Mcpherson case when he re-
turned to his office about $50
on the afternoon of September
Ia. He said he was told of the
finding Of the body and that
Kelly and Sergt. Dennis Cullinane
were working on the case.
"Bad-LOOking Case"
He said that later Kelly came
to his office and told him that
it was a "bad-looking case, but
that it had the element of sui
cide."
Kelly reported to the witness,
he said, that the. coroner was
ready to issue a certificate of sui
eide, but that he, Kelly, had de-
INJURED asking for time for a
complete investigation.
At that time, according to the
inspector, young Mcpherson was
locked up at. the Third precinct.
The witness said that after Kelly
had reported to him they went
to the morgue, where an autopsy
was being performed.
At the conclusion of the oper-
alton, Kelly got the Third pre-
cinct on the telephone, Shelby
continued, and Deputy Coroner
Joseph Rogers talked to the pre-
cinct and directed the release of
Mcpherson, ordering that he and
his mother report at the inquest
to be held the following week.
Heard From Hurley
. Shelby and Kelly then re-
turned to headquarters and the
witness said that he received a
message from A. A. Hurley, Of
Chester, N. c., father of the dead
girl, who said that he had re-
ceived letters from his daughter
indicating marital difficulties and
asking that the police go into the
matter thoroughly.
Shelby said that he then went
to dinner, and that on his return
about z o'clock he was told that
a month or two before head
quarters had received a telephone
call from Hurley stating that his
daughter had reported to him that
her husband was abusing her. At
the fathers request an officer had
been sent to the Mcpherson apart
ment, but found no trouble.
Shelby next told of going to the
home of the senior Mcpherson,
where he and Kelly questioned
young Mcpherson. The inspector
described the questioning at
length, going over the details Of
young McPherson'S description Of
his activities on the night Of Mrs.
McPherson'S death. He said that
the boys father and mother were
nerrnifted to he present. but were