The Washington times., 1910-09-22
Another Theory
GUen Knockout

OLOSH ATIOCROUE
Another police theory in the NorvaI T.
Harris death mystery was made value
less today when Dr.. 3 Cliff. Of the
Emergency Hospital staff, made stNte-
ments to a Times representative show
ing cOncIuSively that the police have
biUndered in exploiting the attemptel
suicide Of Harry Miles. OF Germantown.
Nd, as proof that Harris might haze
shot himself without leaving traces OF
powder burns
Dr. Cliffs name is featured in the re-
ports made by Detectives Weedon and
Burlingame on the Harris tragedy, into
which they have injected the case OF
young Miles, but II required The Times
but a few moments to ascertain that.
II Dr. Cliff had been fully questioned by
the police, his expert opinion would
have been contrary TO their wishes
Again, the police seem 10 have SUD
pressed any fact that might ridicule
their pet suicide theory
The Harris and Miles cases are by no
means analogous
Shows Difference.
DR.. Cliff explains the difference he
tween the two. Had the police made a
real investigation at the Emergency
Hospital even their biased minds would
have recognized this fact. and thev
would not have presumed to use the
name Of a member Of the hospital staff
Ostensibly 10 give color 10 the police
end Of the Harris case
No direct evidence IS Obtainable that
Miles hair was not burned when he at
tempted his life, nor can there be found
any reason why the Miles case should
be dragged in by the police 10 bolster
uD their allegation Of suicide in the
matter Of NOrval Harris
Admitting that Miles wound had been
treated before the would be suicide was
brought TO the Emergency and that the
-hsir about the wound had been clipped
by another. Dr. Cliff goes further. and
declares that the respective weapons
used by Miles and Harris make imDOs-
Siblc a comparison OF the two 3fralrS-
And again. Dr. Cliff agrees with the
other experts. who have been inter
viewed by The Times. that II Il practl-
caily impossible for man TO hold a
revolver 10 a part OF MS own BODY WITH
cut the pistol fire producing a burn OF
some character
Leaves Its Mark
II have treated a number Of gunshot
wound cases. said Dr. Cliff I never
knew Of an instance where a gun was
exploded near a mans head without
burning the hair or flesh I regard It
as quite Improbable that q IOng-barreIed
-ss-caliber revolver should fail 10
leave its mark. If held within a few
inches Of the body IN many instances
the flame is sufficient 70 set clothing
Miles was shot with a very weak
pistol, a .32-cHlibeT, short cartridge The
bullet penetrated his head not more
than three inches, indicating that there
was little power behind it. There IS, o.
necessity. great difference between the
her revolver a '2S short fer instance.
would have more power than z y Ions
''The weapon used by Niles evidently
was Of cheap manufacture and both
cartridge and pistol were inferior, else
the bullet would have gone through
Niles brSin, killing him instantly
have not seen the Harris revolver. but
II II was a s. lone-bsrrel gun the We
Iocity Of Its missile and the spread OF
its fame would have been proportion
AS 10 the absence Of powder burns
on Miles I OILY know thai the hair
had been clipped when he was
brought to this institution The barred
portion Of his head covered perhaps
diameter OF two inches Naturally
/ could not say that there were no
powder burns because / did Sct clip
the hair"
Boast Not Supported.
The police have been quoted as say
ing that the STAFF OF Emergency Hos
pitaI would substantiate the claim
that Miles hair was not singed and
Times reporters were invited by mem
hers Of the police force to-investig gate
81 the hospital Dr. Cliff treated
Seuns Niles and he fails TO support
the proud boast Of the police
The police report on the Harris
case. singularly enough. fails 10 lay
especial stress upon the fact that the
that its bullet barely got through the
skull There Is no doubt as 20 the
force 5enInd the bullet which ended the
lie of Harris.
10 physician Is in position to declare
that TIE hair uUOn Miles head was IN
sCcrChed- NUca uro5diug on the part
of the central office detectives who
sought a prop for the Harris suicide
verdict developed the following at Ger
uantown-
That Niles father reached the wound
ed bov first. and thar ne saw nc powder
buns. but the father was much excited
al thc time
Raymond AIHes- q brother saws he
saw nothing but blood and cid not look
FOR burns
Allen Sherman, who cut the hair away.
saws Il was c-Irled IN like "a piE-tail-
He could not saw that The hair looked
as thcGel IL was scGrchcd but he
smeIIed the burned powder in the hair
DR.. Isaac Sinners first treated the
Miles wound He found that prior 10
IFS arrival theC hair had been cut from
around II I.v some member Of the family
Miles Versus Harris.
Taken for ali Il is worth, that is the
story Of the police who, placed on the
defensive have Qitted Miles versus
Harris. The detectives who, apparently,
have assiduously worked from the be
ginning 10 stigmaJize Harris a suicide
and 10 let the matter so at that, have
Yet to produce the first expert in the
treatment Of wounds OF this character