Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-17
Jury EXONERATES
LIMERICK SUSPECTS
Special Report Recommends
Reform in Investigation
Methods of Coroner's Office.

from a gun held in the hand or hands
of q party or parties unknown to the
coroner's jury. but believed that Vernon
Thomas Limerick, William Edward
Paddy, Richard Sheridan Reed and
Robert F. Langdon had guilty knowl-
edge Of the crime, therefore, recon-
mended that they be held for action OF
the grand jury.
Lack Evidence Of Guilt.
"A thorough and exhaustive investiga-
ton was conducted by this grand jury,
covering q period OF nearly three weeks,
during which time 40 witnesses were
examined and their testimony extern
sively reviewed.
"This evidence does not sufficiently
indicate the guilt of any person or per-
sons, and we are therefore returning an
ignoramus.
"As a result of the grand jury in
vestigation, we believe it to be our
duty to make certain observations with
respect to some circumstances sur
rounding this case.
"It Is the unanimous opinion of this
fury that Capt. Edward j. Kelly, Sergt
John Flaherty and the other members
of the homicide squad have made
courageous, diligent and conscientious
effort to solve this crime, and we want
to emphasize the confidence we have
in these men.
Several hours elapsed between the
time when the girl was pronounced dead
until the cause of her death was de-
termined by the coroner, the body nav
ing been removed to an undertaking
establishment several hours before the
autopsy was performed. The authority
to remove the body was granted by one
of the deputy coroners over the tele-
phone. The police were, therefore, ma
terially handicapped at the outset OF
their investigation and it Is in the
hope that a recurrence OF such conol-
tions may be avoided that this grand
Jury makes the following recommends
tons:
Recommend Report to Police.
al. That all doctors or internes re-
spending to an emergency call, IN an
cases be required to impart to the
Police Department any suspicious cir
cumstances, If any, which may come
to their attention upon examination OF
the body and that they be required 10
notify the police Immediately ana re-
main at the scene until the coroner or
the police arrive.
az. That the coroner's Office upon
notification of a death, where licensed
practitioner of medicine has not been IN
Attendance, shall within reasonable
time visit and inspect the scene OF the
death and under no conditions shall the
body be permitted to be moved, until
this has been accomplished, and In al
cases proper records shall be made as
to the time Of such visit, the time per-
mission was given to remove the BODY
and to whom such permission was gwen
Poor Facilities aF Morgue.
"3. From the testimony heard by
this grand jury from one OF the deputy
coroners it appears that because OF the
inadequate facilities and generally poor
conditions existing at the District OF Co
Iumbia Morgue, the coroners once
would rather perform their autopsies at
private undertaking establishments. We
suggest that the authorities make
proper investigation to determine
whether or not these conditions actually
exist as represented to us and, If SO. we
recommend that, If possible, these con-
ditions be corrected.
"In this connection we are of the
opinion that the coroner and two deputy
coroners is an inadequate force to prop
erly perform such duties In community
the size of this city.
I'VE respectfully submit the foregoing
to this honorable court with the COM
ment that the suggestions herein en-
bodied are offered purely in construc-
tive spirit, for this body does rot wish
the report construed to be critical OF
any individual connected with this
case"
Limerick Case Unsolved.
A little white card bearing the in
scription Limerick Case, Unsolved,"
found its way into a file case at police
headquarters today to end concentrated
investigation of the girls death.
The Cantfal'C SapOnd nnS0lypd Yi0ur-
der Of a woman within two years first
came to light when an assistant under
taker discovered a .25-caliber bullet in
Beulah Limerick's head, December 81.
Police Immediately arrested seven
men, released four Of them and held
Vernon Limerick, brother of the slain
girl; william Paddy and Richard Reed,
her friends.
The next several days Of the investi-
CATION were consumed in vigorous ques-
tioning of the three held. Meanwhile
the Sky-High Whoopee Club Secretary's
leather-bound diary was the subject
OF study and day later police called
in all those whose names appeared in
the book.
The investigation took a startling turn
ut this point when police arrested Rob-
ert F. Langdon, fifth precinct patrol
man, after finding a .25-caliber gun on
his person and second of the same
type In an icebox at his home.
Concentrate on Langdon.
Police concentrated their attack on
Langdon until Lieut.. Frank Fowler, po-
lice firearms expert, announced that
neither Of Langdon's guns could pos
sibly have fired the fatal shot. At this
point, however, further suspicion was
woven about Langdon, when Mrs. Dora
Limerick, the slain girls mother, told
Investigators that her daughter had
complained before her death that
"Langdon had been annoying her"
Later Langdon admitted that he was
near the murder house, 19 Eighteenth
street, at 4 O'Clock on the morning OF
the staying.
When repeated crosS-examination of
the four suspects failed to uncover
tangible evidence, police Investigators
announced that they would present
what case they had to a coroner's jury.
1t was not until the second day of
the inquest that new developments &C.
Cured At that time Mrs. Martha
Bargfrede took the witness stand and
testified that Mrs. Dora Limerick had
told her Ito keep quiet about finding
q gun in a stove. Mrs. Limerick denied
this statement, and police were unable
to verify the story told by the Barg-
frede girl
Conflicting Testimony Given.
Conflicting testimony was given at
the inquest as to just whether or not
blood stains were found on the bed
clothing on the cot where the Limerick
viPl WaS found hood