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

AaA PAAyb wAAo PAeoANo0 uS VIC LII
quest.
The original verdict of a coroner's
jury, that Mr.. Bunch died accident
ally of a fractured skull and cere-
bral hemorrhages induced by shock
after a fall suffered before his ar
rest, will stand. DR.. Murphy de-
clared in q statement issued late
yesterday.
Mr.. Bunch's family had expressed
dissatisfaction with the inquest ver-
dict, insisting there was reason to
believe police mistreatment or neg
ligence had contributed to his death
Mr.. Bunch was taken to the hos
pital from No. 8 police precinct STA
tion, where he was being held on a
drunkenness charge. He had been
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
ton of law. Therefore, Mr.. Fay
stated, he was closing the case on
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 Counsel
Vernon E. West of his action.
The jury had been recalled last
Wednesday to hear additional evil
dence, at the request of Mr.. Fay,
but the hearing was adjourned by
DR.. Murphy, pending receipt of an
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.. Fftz-
patrick said be had no comment.
He said he had not read the JUS
tice Department report.
Murphy's Statement.
DIR. Murphy'S statement, ad-
dressed to the press, follows:
November 10, 1947.
IT am in receipt of a 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 is
self-explanatory and herewith re-
leased to the press:
November 10, 1947.
"'Dr. A. Magruder Macdonald,
coroner for the District of Columbia,
Washington, D. G.
Dear DR.. Macdonald:
"'By a letter dated October 70,
1947, I requested that the inquest
into the death of John Forrest
Bunch be reopened in order that a
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 s.
"'Dr. Christopher j. Murphy, dep
uty coroner, reopened the inquest on
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 OF
the Civil Rights Section of the
Criminal Division of the Depart
ment of Justice, which was based
on the investigation conducted by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The report disclosed no violation OF
any Federal criminal statute.
"The investigation conducted by
this Office led to the further conclu-
sion-which was pertinent to our
inquiry but not to that of the De-
partment of Justice-that there was
no evidence of a violation of any
local criminal statute.
Closing Records in Case.
"Tn view of the foregoing, l am
at this time withdrawing my request
that the inquest be reopened. I am
closing this case on the records OF
this Office
every truly yours, George Morris
Fay, United States Attorney
After conferences with DR.. A.
Magruder Macdonald, coroner OF
the District of Columbia, and re-
view of the letters and reports of
the investigation conducted by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and
the investigation of the District At
torney's office, I now declare the
coroner's jury dismissed and the
proceeding discontinued, to revert
back to- the original hearing or in
quest. I am, likewise, informing the
Corporation Counsel of my act"