Evening star., 1947-10-16
Investigators Check
CeIImate S Story Of
Bunch Commissions

A sworn statement by a fellow
prisoner of John Forrest Bunch thai
the 64-year-old carpenter suffered
at least three convulsions in his eel
at No. 9 Precinct on July 20, week
before he died in Gallinger Hos.
pital of fractured skull, was being
checked today by Investigators.
While United States Attorney
George Morris Fay would say only
that the case was still under inves.
tigat ation," it was known his Office
has a previous statement by the
witness, Frank Paul Regan. giving 8
different version from that which
he related to attorneys of the Bunch
family several days ago.
In his signed statement to them
police said, Regan mentioned one
convulsion, rather than three, ane
stated he first heard something un.
usual in the precinct about or
pm, shortly before Mr.. Bunch was
removed to the hospital.
Now Reports Help Delayed.
Regan's subsequent statement te
Attorneys John R. Fitzpatrick ano
Edward j. Lynch said he first heard
the prisoner having convulsior
around about 4 o'clock" and that
he called for assistance for Mr.
Bunch over a period of several hours
before police responded.
In his first statement, police said
he made no mention that police "got
to mauling the man around trying
to dress him" In both statements
Regan denied he had heard police
beating Mr.. Bunch, who was under
arrest for intoxication.
Mr.. Fay pointed out that Regar
was mot new witness" He wa.
summoned to the inquest, and re-
mained On call throughout the hear.
ing August IA at which a coroner;
jury found Mr.. Bunch's death wa.
accidental due to fractured skull
suffered in a fall.
For some reason, Regan was MOI
summoned to the stand.
Says Lawyers Were Summoned.
Deputy Coroner c. J. Murphy, who
presided at the inquest. said hi
summoned attorneys in the case
including one representing the
Bunch family. to the bench towaro
the close of the hearing, gave then
list OF names of remaining wit.
nesses and explained as far as hi
knew their testimony would be
largely corroborative. No one, DR.
Murphy said, asked that Regan bs
put on the stand.
James ]. German, jr., who repre-.
sented the family at the inquest
said yesterday he would have sum.
moned Regan If he had known hi
had been an occupant of the next
cell to that of Mr.. Bunch. Detec.
tive sergeants said they gave thu
Bunch family and their attorney
list Of witnesses prior to the in.
quest, including the names of oc.
cupants of the cell block in which
Mr.. Bunch was held.
Regan, police said, had been ar.
rested II times for intoxication
three times on disorderly conduct
charges, and three times on other
minor charges since 1881.
President Truman today declined
to be drawn into a discussion o1
the Bunch case when, in response
to a question from a local reporter
he said he did not care to com.
ment, and added the case was a
local matter that should be handled
by municipal authorities in the
proper way.
Meanwhile, the civil rights section
OF the Justice Department still hac
the case under investigation, with nc
indication of when a report will be
returned.
Young Issues Statement.
Commissioner John Russell Youne
late yesterday issued the following
statement on the case:
Il have told the public everythins
I know about the Bunch case.
have no intention of covering up any
fact or defending any wrongdoer.
If Mr.. Bunch died as result Of
the least maltreatment or neglect,
want to know it. Thus far / have
had no information to that effect
So far reports to me do not indicate
anything of the sort.
AT the coroner's inquest there
were present representatives of the
United States fIistricf. attnrnev.S of.