Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-27
What They Can't Do Under Mallory
Chief Murroy's Narrative Of Methods
That the Courts Have Found WlegoF
DILEMMA or THE POLICE

huVC ON''N IHSS0t
Of this check revealed only
fingerprints identified as
those of the witness. Further
police examination of the
area disclosed a coupon adj
dressed to Occupant, 2314
Ashmead place NV" a
business card with the de-
cedent's name on it, and a
can of soup. Later laboratory
examination for the presence
of latent fingerprints was
negative.
+ hHH
On Thursday, March 8, 1862,
an anonymous letter sent
through the United States
mail was received in the Of
flee of the chief Of police.
This letter bore no postage
stamps or return address and
contained a white piece Of
paper stating that the in"
closed articles consisting of
a District of Columbia auto
mobile registration card, a
Masonic lodge membership
card, a safe driving card, a
District of Columbia Public
Library card, a music teach
ers' association membership
card, a District of Columbia
operators permit, a personal
identity card. an AAA mem
bership card and q group
disqualification card, all in
the name of the decedent,
had been found on the eve
ming of March 3, 1862, in
front of 1874 P street NV.
Laboratory examination of
these items developed some
latent fingerprints and a
palm print.
About $3.50 pm, Friday,
March 9, 1862, Pvt. John
P. Waters, a member Of the
Canine Corps on a special
beat in the 18th precinct,
was notified over the patrol
box that a pocketbook
snatching had occurred about
7:30 pm. that date at 1903
Biltmore street, about four
blocks from the Merson
murder scene. Pvt. Waters
was furnished the descrip-
ton Of the two assailants.
About GAS pm, while
walking his beat and in the
2400 block of Twentieth street,
about a block and a half
from the reported robbery,
Pvt. Waters was alerted
by his dog to the presence Of
someone in a darkened area
of the Mount Airy Apart
ments. AS the officer ap-
preached the area, two men
later identified as Wilson
Monroe Smith, jr., aged 20
years, of 463 Neal street NV,
and Raymond Bowden, II
years, of $50 N street NV,
started walking away at a
rapid rate. The officer called
to them and as they moved
to a lighted area he noted
they fit the description given
in the Biltmore street rob-
berry. He stopped them and
found that they did not live
in the area. Both claimed
they were looking for the
Capitol Arena and lost their
way. The officer told the
subjects they answered the
descriptions which he had
been previously given and it
would be necessary to check
them further.
Precinct Detectives Robert
Foright and o. L. Curtis re-
sponded to Pvt. Waters call
to transport them to the 18th
precinct in connection with
the robbery reported at 1903
Biltmore street. While en-
route to the precinct station
house, they responded on a
call for another robbery at
1928 Ontario road. The COM
plainant had received a head
injury and was transported
in the police car to the hos
pital. On arrival at the sta
ton house, Smith and Bow
den, with four others, were
placed in a lineup. But the
complainant in the Biltmore
street case was unable to
make an identification. About
1886 pm, the two officers
were directed to respond on
another robbery call at 1876
Willard street NV. The
juvenile was released to his
mother at 1905 am, Satur-
day, March 10, 1862.
-
On returning to the sta
tionhouSe these officers as
sisted in the preparation Of
another series of robbery
cases in which four juveniles
were arrested and determined
to be responsible for Is rob-
berry and four HOUSEKEEPING
cases, finally checking off
duty at $50 am. AS a result
of their investigation and
questioning of Smith, the de-
tectives felt it advisable to
have him transported to the
Identification Bureau to have
his fingerprints and the rec
ordS there checked and to be
held for the lineup at 8:45
am. to be viewed by detec-
tives for possible involvement
in other offenses.
At 8:45 am, Saturday,
March 10, Smith was viewed
by Detective Chrispen Pres
ton of the Homicide Squad
in the Detective Bureau line
up. Detective Preston noted
that this prisoner had been
arrested less than two blocks
from the scene of the Miksa
Merson murder and that
there appeared to be spat-
tered blood on the Air Force
flight jacket he was wearing.