Evening star., 1953-05-19
Police Chief 10 Give
Data 10 Rover on
Probe Of Fatal Fire

Police Chief Robert v. MUIR
ray said today he will turn over
to United States Attorney Leo
A. Rover the results of a police
investigation of fatal Satur-
day fire and of the two detec-
tives cleared by a coroner's jury
of any part in the mystery blaze.
The chief also said the two
10th precinct detectives, Web
Ster Dawson and Warren A. Dali
rymple, will remain under sus-
pension until a full inveStiga-
ton is completed.
Mr.. Rover, Chief Murray said,
will get the results of the in
vestigation by the homicide
squad as we'll as that made by
Deputy Chief George Wallrodt
and other officials.
COnfers With Rover.
The chief said he had con-
ferred with the prosecutor by
telephone this morning and Mr..
Rover said he would like to go
over the statements made by
the detectives and other wit
neSSes.
The two officers were cleared
by the coroner's jury late yester-
day. after only 80 minutes of
deliberation. The jury had heard
day-long testimony. highly con-
Trajectory as to the whereabouts
of the officers during last Satur-
days early morning hours.
Highlight of the testimony
was a surprise statement by 1t.
Lawrence Hartnett of the Homi-
eide Squad that five persons had
placed the detectives in a U
street after-hours club from
about $3.50 am. to about 8 am.
Saturday.
Named by Two Witnesses.
Earlier, two other witnesses
told the jury they had seen the
detectives on the second floor
OF the rooming house at 708 La
mont street NV. shortly before
the fire broke out there at 5:O3
am.
The detectives have repeatedly
denied they were at the address.
The jury ruled that the dead
woman, Henrietta Ashby. died
of a fire of unknown origin"
Assistant United States At
torney Arthur D. Schaffer an
nounced the case now will be
considered by the United States
Attorneys Office to see whether
1t should be presented to a grand
jury.
Did Not Testify.
The two detectives, who had
been held for action of the cor
oner's jury in view of the con-
t1icting statements of witnesses,
did not take the stand during
the inquest.
1t. Hartnett testified that the
detectives gave a statement in
which they said they visited
three bars after leaving work.
He said they listed the third bar
as the Artists and Models Club
AN after-hours establishment
In the 1400 block of U street
NV.
One of the earlier witnesses.
Louis Washington. %. of the
1900 block of Eighth street NV,
said Dalrymple asked him at the
rooming house if he had any
'tasters," meaning whisky, to
sell. Washington said he told
Dalrymple he had not. He said
he saw both detectives in the
game room" and that Dali
rymple threw a firecracker be-
tween my legs"
But that firecracker didn't
start the fire, did it?" asked Cliff
ford Alder, representing the de-
tectives.
NO, .replle0 the witness.
Says Wires Were Cut.
Washington further testified
that he saw Dalrymple take out
a knife and cut some wiring at
the top of the steps from the
first to the second floor.
Dawson also was identified by
Dorothy Harris, a roomer at the
Lamont street address, who stood
up and pointed him out while
she was on the witness stand.
In Municipal Court yesterday, a
simple assault case against Dali
rymple was continued until May
%. Dalrymple was accused of
swinging on a cab driver. who
picked his car out Of a parking
lot as the one he had seen leav-
ing the Lamont street address
shortly before the fire.