Evening star., 1947-11-11
Death Of Bunch
Marked Closed
By Fay, Murphy
Coroner's Original
Verdict of Accidental
Fall Will Stand

O1A WIN StutIO
The death of John Forrest Bunch
64-year-old carpenter, in Gallingel
Hospital last August 4 has beer
marked a closed case by United
States Attorney George Morris Fay
and Deputy Coroner Christopher J
Murphy, who presided at the in.
quest.
The original verdict of a coroner's
jury, that Mr.. Bunch died accident
ally of fractured skull and cere-
bral hemorrhages induced by shock
after a fall suffered before his ar
rest, will stand, DR.. Murphy de.
clared in a statement issued late
yesterday.
Mr.. Bunch's family had expressed
dissatisfaction with the inquest ver-
dict, insisting there was reason t6
believe police mistreatment or neg
ligence had contributed to his death
Mr.. Bunch was taken to the hos.
pital from No. police precinct sta
ton, where he was being held on 8
drunkenness charge. He had beer
found unconscious on a sidewalk.
No Violations Found.
In his statement, DR.. Murphy re-
vealed he had received a letter
from Mr.. Fay withdrawing his re-
quest that the Bunch inquest be
reopened. Mr.. Fay wrote his in
vestigation and that of the Justice
Department had disclosed no viola.
tion of law. Therefore, Mr.. Fay
stated, he was closing the case or
the records of his office.
In view of this letter, DR.. Murphy
explained, he was dismissing the
coroner's jury, which sat in the case
and notifying Corporation Counse
Vernon E. West of his action.
The jury had been recalled last
Wednesday to hear additional evi.
dence, at the request of Mr.. Fay
but the hearing was adjourned BY
DR.. Murphy, pending receipt of ar
opinion from the corporation coun-
sci on objections to the proceed
ing raised by John r. Fitzpatrick
attorney for the Bunch family.
Apprised of DR.. Murphy's deci.
sion to close the case, Mr.. Fitz-
patrick said he had no comment
He said he had not read the Jus.
tice Department report.
Murphy's Statement.
DR.. Murphy's statement, ad'
dressed to the press, follows:
November 10, 1947.
"I am in receipt of letter ad.
dressed to DR.. Macdonald with the
request from Mr.. George Morris Fay
United States attorney for the Dis
trict of Columbia, which letter Ii
self-explanatory and herewith re.
leased to the press:
November 10, 1947.
CDR. A. Magruder Macdonald
coroner for the District of Columbia
Washington, D. c.
q "'Dear DR.. Macdonald:
":By a letter dated October %
1947, I requested that the inquest
into the death of John Forrest
Bunch be reopened in order that q
full and open hearing of all the
evidence then available could be had
In conformity with the desires OF
Mr.. Bunch's family.
Reopened November 5.
CDR. Christopher j. Murphy, dep
uty coroner, reopened the inquest on
November S, 1947, and started to
take evidence when objections were
interposed by Mr.. John r. Fitz-
patrick, attorney for the family. Ac-
cordingly, DR.. Murphy adjourned
the hearing, pending the advice OF
the corporation counsel as to the
legal problems involved.
1.-The Attorney General on Sat.
urday, November 8, 1947 made pub.
lie the complete 36-page report o1
the Civil Rights Section of the
Criminal Division of the Depart.
ment of Justice, which was basec
on the investigation conducted by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The report disclosed no violation o1
any Federal criminal statute.
1.-THE investigation conducted by
this Office led to the further conclu.
sion-which was pertinent to ou1
inquiry but not to that of the De.
partment of Justice-that there was
no evidence of a violation OF any
local criminal statute.
"'In view of the foregoing, 1 an
at this time withdrawing my reques1
that the inquest be reopened. an
closing this case on the records o.
this Office
every truly yours, George Morri!
Fay, United States Attorney
After conferences with DR.. A
Magruder Macdonald, coroner o1
the District of Columbia, and re.
view of the letters and reports o1
the investigation conducted by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation anc
the investigation of the District At.
torney's Office, I now declare ths
coroner's jury dismissed and the
proceeding discontinued, to rever1
back to the original hearing or in.
quest. I am, likewise, informing tn.
Corpora tion Counsel of NV act" !"