Evening star., 1952-08-12
Fu||Probe0pen,'
On Release Of
White June4
Stories in Conflict
On How He Was
Freed Before Killing

Police today began a full l-hedged
investigation into the procedure
by which 17-year-old william
Roland White, now a confessed
slayer, was released from the Re-
ceiving Home June 4.
Police Supt. Robert v. Murray
and Capt. Richard Felber. head of
the homicide squad, announced
the probe as authorities prepared
to present the Ralph T. Blake
murder case to the grand jury
within the next two weeks.
Two Of the top men of the
homicide squad, 1t. L. A. HartnettI
and Detective Sergt. Lloyd Furr,
were assigned to investigate the
release of White.
White is charged with stabbingI
and beating to death Mr.. Blake, al
Marine Corps addressograph clerk.
in a downtown alley last Thurs
day night.
Conflicting Answers Cited.
Contradicting stories have come
from questions about how White
left the Receiving Home after heI
had been picked up a few hours
earlier for assault in another rob-
berry case.
A Receiving Home emplcye said
she had telephone call from a.
member of the police juvenile
squad, asking that the boy be re-
leased in custody of a sister-in-
law. Mrs. Lorraine White, 81, of
IL M street NV.
1t. John A. Ryan, head of the
Juvenile squad, has denied he
made the call. So has Pvt. Ber-
nard johnson, who had taken the
boy to the home at 6:05 am. and
then turned the case over to Juve-
nile Court for further action.
Says She Recognized Voice.
Inspector jeremiah Flaherty, as
siStant detective chief, said inves-
tigators are now reasonably Ger
tain that the release call was not
made by a member of the juvenile
squad.
However, Miss Leola Bush, the
receptionist at the institution, who
received the call and subsequently
released White in custody, said
she definitely recognized the voice
as member of the police squad.
She did not telephone back to con-
firm the call, as requirements call
for, because doing that so often
made her feel silly" she said.
Miss Bush said she is certain
that it was Mrs. White, the sis
ter-in-law, who came for White
and not an imposter as police
have theorized. Miss Bush said
she recognized Mrs. White from
pictures.
Only One Pay Phone.
White has told police he tele-
phoned his sister -in-law from the
institution. This has officials
baf1ed. as TO the time ard oppcr-
tunity, for there is only one pay
telephone at the home, and it'll
is in plain sight of the superin-
tendent's and chief clerks Office.
The institutions daily log book
shows an erasllre, which under q
Pmicroscope is believed to bel
Whites name. Beside it is the
name Of a detective. also erased.
The names are entered N the
book when an inmate is taken
out Of the home for some reason.
But usually, when he is returned,
the names are crossed out, not
erased.
Investigators are seeking tol
learn where White was taken that
day, and if he had an opportunity
to use the telephone. Donald
Brewer, acting Welfare Depart
ment head, believes it almost i'm
possible that he telephoned from
the Receiving Home.
Released on Busy Day.
Wednesday, the day White was
released from the home at 1851
pm, is one of the busiest because
it is court day. The theory was
raised that White may have asked
one of the boys being released to
call his SiSter-in-1aw.
Police also have theorized that
some other person, not on the
juvenile squad, was asked to tele-
phone the release order. Miss
Bush recalled, however, that the
male voice asked that she be sure
to have Mrs. White sign the pa
pers assuring Whites appearance
in court.
White, who had been in the
Receiving Home before and per-
haps knew such procedure, may
have asked an imposter to take
care of that formality, it also was
Speculated.
Asked That He Be Held.
The papers delivering White tol
the institution asked that he bel
respectfully held for action of
UAAC NOAAv VI 4CAUCSbCO 1C=
leased by the undersigned officer" ~
This was signed by Pvt. johnson.
Another form, noting whether
an inmate should be released toI
parent or guardian stated: "Notl
for time being"
The papers releasing White were
not signed in the space, Author
lied by" but underneath it, over
the word "title," was the singlel
name, Bush"
To Be Treated as an Adult.
AS preparations for the grand
jury hearing went ahead in the
murder case, United States At
torney Charles M. Irelan asserted
that White would receive the same
treatment as any adult whose
case goes to the jury.
The decks were cleared for the
action yesterday when a coroner's|
jury held White responsible for
Mr.. Blake's death and Juvenile
Court waived Jurisdiction.