Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-13
SHELBY ORDERED
BEFORE SURGEONS
Action Is Taken Looking to
Retirement of Assistant
Police Head.
Continued From First Page)


abetted by the strain OF the Beulah
Limerick shooting mystery, which de-
veloped last December.
DR.. Reed could not be located by The
Star this afternoon for comment on
today's events.
Friends of Shelby point out that three
of Washington'S most noted police
mysteries-the Mcpherson, Baker and
Limerick cases-all fell to the lot OF
Inspector Shelby during his brief as
signment as chief of the Detective
Bureau.
A grand jury. which later was dis
qualified, accused Inspector Shelby and
Capt. Cthen Lieut. Edward J. Kelly OF
"bungling" the investigation of the
death of Mrs. Mcpherson, whose body
was found in the Park Lane Apart
ments with a ajama cord tied around
the neck The police had reached the
conclusion that the young woman COM
mitted suicide, but the grand jury, after
sensational hearings, charged she was
murdered by her husband, Robert Nc
Pherson.
Mcpherson ExOnerated.
The Department Of Justice was called
into the case, and 1t presented its ind
1ngs to new grand jury. which ex-
orerated Mcpherson. In the meantime
Shelby and Kelly had been relieved OF
their assignments because of the ex-
traordinary excoriation of them by the
previous grand jury. and they were tried
before q special board composed Oh
municipal officials.
The board held lengthy hearings amid
much publicity and accorded Sheloy
and Kelly a sweeping and unqualineo
eXoneration. Kelly. who had zone
much OF the actual investigative work
in the case, was given a special COM
nendation" for the efhcient manner
in which he handled the case
The repercusSions Of the Mcpherson
case scarcely had ended when the bull
let-torn body Of Mary Baker, Navy
clerk, was found In a culvert alongside
Arlington Cemetery Shelby and Kelly
bore the brunt of much OF the lnvestl-
Eative work in this case. into which ,fiitin
the Department Of Justice and virginia
authorities also were drawn. II,
Shelby was forced 10 seek medlcai
treatment several times as result OF
overwork during the Baker and Linn
erick Investigations, and remained on
duty frequently against the ADVICE OF
his physicians.
HAD UNUSUAL NdTCCE.
shelby's career on the police force
has been unusual in that most OF MS
30 years of service has been OF ad-
minfstrative character. Until the NC
Pherson fireworks his record was de-
void of the spectacular, but marked by
q series of rapid promotions in recog-
milton of executive accomplishments.
Born In Thompsonville, KY, on Janu-
AIRY 8, 1874, Shelby attended school in
Boston and Holyoke, Mass. In 1895 ne
enlisted in the Army in response TO
youthful urge to see the world. He
was discharged February 18, 1888. but
re-enlisted with the outbreak OF the
Spanish-American War, serving with
Ennis Battery. 4th Artillery, Shafter
Corps, and participating in the battle OF
Santiago He was discharged from the
service June 10. 1902.
Two DAYS later he was appointed to
the Metropolitan Police Department
and assigned to the second precinct.
where he pounded" beat until
August /, 1905. He was then trans
August S. 1905. was transferred to the
fourth precinct. He went to the first
precinct February Z, 1906.
He was relieved Of patrol duty on
June IT. 1907. and made desk sergeant
at the fourth precinct, where he served
until November !, 1918. when he was
detached and detailed to the Office of
the corporation counsel at Police Court.
Assigned rs Contact Officer.
Shelby remained at Police Court until
November 10, 1917, when he was pro-
NOTED to sergeant and assigned to the
first precinct He was detached from
the precinct, however. for special serv-
ice at police headquarters and the late
Mai. Raymond L. Pullman assigned him
as contact oficer with the public
schools.
In his role as contact officer with the
schools, Shelby made q round of visits
to all the schools Of the District for
two terms and addressed approximately
100000 children on the principles OF
government. responsibilities Of citizen
ship, rights of property and rules for
health and safety.
He was made an acting lieutenant
February %, 1919, and on August 10.
1919. was promoted to the permanent
grade Of lieutenant
Two wears later he took the civil serv-
ice examinat ton for promotion to cap
tain and passed at the head Of the list,
as he had done previously when eX-
amined for q sergeantcy. He was APP
pointed captain January 16 1922, and
assigned to command the eleventh pre-
cinct.
Made Sullivan's Aide.
Remaining at the eleventh precinct
only one month, he was brought to po-
lice headquarters and assigned as per-
sonnet officer and administrative aide
to the late Maj. Daniel Sullivan, In
August of that year he was acting in
spector and on July !. 1924, was given
the full rank of inspector.
Va has hold tho fjflo ~ aSciSt Y1t
superintendent Of police since December
IS. 1927.
He applied for retirement because Of
disability on March 8, 1923, but the Re-
firing and Relief Board recommended
At that time that he be retained in the
service
Shelby became head of the Detective
Bureau April /, 1929, and 1t was just 5
months later that the Mcpherson case
broke" While serving as detective
chief he also was administrative as
sistant to the superintendent of police
exercising general supervision over the
personnel Office.
In his capacity as administrative aide
to the superintendent. Shelby handled
police arrangements for the Harding
Coolidge and Hoover inaugurations. for
the Harding funeral, for the Shrine
convention in 1928 and for the Lind
bergh reception. He was ofncially COM
mended by the Commissioners. together
with Maj Hesse and Asst. Supt. Evans,
for services accident to the Lindbergh
ceremonies.
Inspector Shelby has been secretary
Of the Washington Lodge of Elks, No.
IS. for the past 18 years. and he is a
member Of the Elks Committee on Re-
lief
He also is a member of the Dewey
Camp. United Spanish War Veterans;
the Woodmen of the World and the
Policemen'S Association.
He Is married and resides at 3706
Thirty-fourth street with his wife and
i4-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth.