Evening star., 1946-09-05
Six Detectives
Assignedto
Kemp Staying
Special Squad Set Up
To Work Exclusively
On Mystery Stobbing

special SiX-man squad of de-
tectlves has been assigned to "break"
the James Anthony Kemp murder
case which has baffled Washington
police since early Sunday when the
veteran was stabbed to death block
from his home seemingly without
reason, Inspector Robert j. Barrett,
chief of detectives, announced today.
Inspector Barrett, declaring that
we are not without leads which
may bring the murderer to justice,
said the squad will work exclusively
on the mysterious Staying. Detective
Sergt. Edgar E. Scott of the Homi-
eide Squad will head the special de-
tail, which includes Detective Sergts,
Richard Felber, Nunzio Bonaccorsy,
John L. Sullivan, A. D. Clarke and
Robert Kirby.
Sergt. Scott, with Sergt. Felber,
broke the famed Cathedral murder
case with the arrest of Julius Fischer,
colored janitor at the Washington
Cathedral, for the murder of Kath-
crime Riordan two years ago.
dhcS SudTyes
Inspector Barrett took over super
vision of the thuS-far fruitless in
vestigation earlier today when he
returned to Washington from an
eight-day leave in Atlantic City,
N. j. He said he had kept in touch
with the case by listening to radio
accounts. The detective chief de-
clined to discuss the connection of
412-inch knife blade, found in a
sewer near the scene of the crime
with the murder of Mr.. Kemp.
investigators have spent the past
two days on three tasks: Attempting
TO locate the owner of the knife;
trying to locate any one who might
be abe to give motive for the fatal
stabbing, and trying to find a bus
or streetcar operator who might have
taken Mr.. Kemp homeward shortly
after II am. Sunday and could tell
if the victim was accompanied by
any one
Capt. Robert S. Bryant, assistant
chief of the Detective Bureau, said
his men hope to find and question
bus driver who may be able to
throw some light on the case.
Driver May Furnish Clue.
The bus driver, who Capt. Bryant
said was working on the Minnesota
avenue Sc. route early Sunday
morning when Mr.. Kemp was killed
a block from his home, has been
out of town since the Staying. Police
wish to find out if Mr.. Kemp was
accompanied when he started home
at about 1910 am. Sunday from
the vicinity of Sixth and Pennsyl-
vania avenue Sc. after an evening
spent with friends in a tavern.
Investigators have been unable to
account for the former sailors last
hour from 1910 am. when he re-
portedly left hamburger shop until
1I0 am. when neighbors found
him dying in the middle of the
street at Thirty y-seventh street and
Thirty-seventh place Sc.
The knife, found near the murder
scene, remains unidentified, although
detectives said they have not aban-
doned hope of locating the owner.
Laboratory test results announced
yesterday were inconclusive, police
said, but the blade may have been
the knife used in the murder" Al
substance which might be blood was
found on the blade, but technicians
could not be sure.
In the meantime, Maj. Harvey G..
Callahan, police superintendent,
posted $500 reward for information
Leading to the capture and convic-
tion of sthe slayer of the 24-year-
old Navy Yard worker.
Funeral services for Mr.. Kemp,
father of two small daughters, were
held yesterday at st. Peters Catholic
Church. He was buried in Arlington
National Ceneferu