Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23
CHILDREN CLEARED
OF MARI Staying
New Probe Begun as Cor
oner's Jury Returns "Per-
sons Unknown" Verdict.

ny stan Correspondent Of The Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Nd. September
A3--with the theory that Alem X.
Mari, rs, was accidently killed by chill
dren playing with their fathers shot
gun fiatly rejected by the coroner's
jury, Prince Georges County authori-
ties today launched a new investigation
into the mans death, which has mysti-
ned the southern part of the county
FOR the past four days.
After barely half an hours delibera-
Zion the jury brought in an open ver-
dict that Mari was killed by person or
persons unknown. but specifically ex-
onerated the children Justice OF Peace
Horace Taylor conducted the inquest.
An effort to have the children who
we're suspected of the shooting. re-
enact the crime before the jury failed
completely last night when a sleepy
6-year-old barefoot boy, overwhelmed
with bashfulness before q crowded court
room. hung his head and refused to
answer questions or touch the 12-gauge
shotgun that was found in the same
house with Marr's body.
Leans Against Rail-
Joseph McKinzie, the child, who was
blamed by his brother George and by
his half-sister. Katie Vermillion, for
the shooting, merely shifted from one
bare foot to another and leaned
against the railing of the witness stand
as States Attorney Alan Bowie, Sheriff
w. Curtis Hopkins and Deputy Sheriff
Thomas H. Garrison tried to persuade
him to show the jury how he broke"
and loaded the gun.
Miss Agnes Duvall, county social
worker, also tried to get the lad to tell
the jury his name and answer other
questions without success.
After 10 minutes Of futile entreaty
the authorities awoke 5-year-old Phil
lip McKinzie, who had fallen asleep
while playing on the floor of the sher-
IFS office, and brought him into the
court room. Phillip was said to have
been playing with the gun along with
Joseph when 1t went of, killing Mari.
but he merely rubbed his eyes and tried
to walk out the rear door of the court
room when questions were asked.
Several hundred sweltering specta-
tors who crowded the court room rose
to their feet, as did some members or
the jury, in attempt to catch any par
ticle Of testimony that might come
from the children.
Two older children of George Nc
Kinzie, caretaker of the Glebe Club,
in whose home the body of Mari was
found, talked more freely. George Nc
Kinzie, jr., 8, repeated the story he
previously told authorities. that Joseph
and Phillip had been drinking out of
. jar OF whisky and were playing with
the shotgun.
Beclxie, Q, nervously lingering a
handkerchief, answered all questions
promptly and politely, but could shed
no light on the actual shooting. John
Henry. IL, who told police of seeing a
man run from the house shortly after
hearing q shot, was Ill and unable to
attend the inquest.
Talking very rapidly, Katie Vermillion
testified that Joseph told her III shot
Mr.. MARI because the man would not
give him dollar. ftIff
Whisky Smell Charged.
When Joseph came from the house, .
she said, his face was very red and
you could smell whisky from him the
same as q barrel" 49,
Others to testify were George +.
Hamel and William Heckinger members
OF the Glebe Club; George Mckenzie,
father of the children, who was on the
Patuxent River when the shooting oc-
CURED; Mildred Brady. daughter OF
Mrs. Vermillion: Dan Smith and John
Savoy OF Croome. Sheriff Hopkins and
Deputy Thomas Talbot, David Edward
Brown, son-in-law of Mr.. MARI. and
William Lllnn Of Marlboro.
1t IS presumed that whatever evil
dence may be collected by the new
investigation Of the shooting, as well
as that offered before the coroner's
jury, win be presented the October
grand jury.