Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-15

with a friend, one White. about Mil
ler's case. and was brought into court
by Boyle.
Said he knew Miller in Jail. Miller
showed him two letters. One had come
in an envelope and was from Mrs.
Schwalenberg. The other was sub
stitute for the first. but he knew not
who wrote it. Miller asked how that
(the second) would do for a substi-
tute and he said 1t would get by"
The original by Mrs. Schwalenberg
was another request for the rings, etc.
The forgery puFported to be from her
and to acknowledge receipt of both
rings. Mrs. Schwalenberg. at once
when shown the letter. denounced it
as a forgery. Said she wrote Miller to
send the other ring, so that it could
be shown to the court that he was not
a thief. She tried to help him, even
though she had lost all regard for him.
Lachance said Miller also wore q
ring, the description Of which answer
ed that of the missing ring; told Of
Millers conversations about Mrs.
Schwalenberg's love for him; the
many letters received; how he had
returned one ring by mail how she
had tried to borrow money and ne had
let her have some $3.50 odd dollars
and had her note for it.
Said Miller wanted him to go to
been at 81st and F streets and saw the
lady give him the rings.
Lachance was here made to give a
specimen of his handwriting.
Miller, in his own defence said he
was born q years ago in Hong Kong.
Father and mother dead. Two sisters
and brother in Canton. Wife dead and
twin daughters on way to States. Am
vice president and superintendent of
the International Construction Cor
poration of China, which is engaged in
great works of building up China, and
came here in January in connection
with the business.
Miller served in the Chinese rebel
lion as a staff captain on the rebel side
and was wounded in the left hip in
1911 at Nangking, causing his much
crippled condition. He arrived IN
Washington about Jan. 6, 1915. Laid
plans before the government officials
He met Mrs. Schwalenberg at the
9Th street cafe and she at once became
infatuated with me and gained my af-
lection and loyalty" We began cor.
responding and had letters from her
nearly every day, beginning Jan. %.
Loaned the rings to me and l gave
them back at her request soon after.
Shes again let me have them, about
the 9Th, knowing l was going away,
saying l could wear them and when
she wanted them she would write.
left Washington Feb. Z. Told her 1
was going. Said she wanted to go
with me to Baltimore, where she had
a married sister. Was to meet me r,
White House station, but didn't Also
write the same in letter to me. Went
to Baltimore, thence to New York.
Wrote her, l was going to Boston. Re-
ceived letter there asking for rings,
saying husband had Threatened t.,
take her life" went to Colonial and
had typewriter letter written, then to
Essex station, inquired about register
ing a letter and sent the two rings to
her.
Then went to Portland, where was
to lecture on China" in the Baptist
Church, but was arrested.
Received the letter in dispute I'M
opened. from Mr.. Buckiin at Jail. La
chance lied about the forgery of the
letter. Had no such talk with him
and showed him no rings.
Miller bitterly protested against
third degree" methods employed by
Sergeant Boyle during his visit 20
him in the Jail that morning and
asked the protection of the court. Said
he was physically abused. while the
Maine officers had treated him as
gentleman. The court remarked with
some severity that such methods, if
used, were ineXcusable and wholly out
Of touch with the administration Of
the law in Maine. Sergeant Boyle, be-
ing permitted to speak, denied any
third degree exhibition, and allowed
that he had been in and knew his
business too well to need such meth
DDS and thought he was too much Of
man to use them on a cripple.
Miller continued, being stopped sew
eral times when he would begin to
argus his case or air his views on the
love relations between Mrs. Schwalen-
berg and himself. Said he didn't know
for some time that she was married
Learned it about Feb. 2. Kept up the
relations nevertheless
Also sent her $7s5, with which she
was to invest or build house, in
which to live and care for his two lit
tie girls. when they arrived. Did all
this. knowing her only about two
weeks. Had faith in her professed
love. She handed me the note, not
signed, bat trusted her. Had over $1100
in the Riggs National Bank. Drew it
all out. Had about $500 for my own
personal use.
In answer to questions, said he
borrowed no money, not $40 from one
Portland Chinaman, SO from another
and So from a third.
Sharply asked il he knew Byard T..
Wrenn or George Goodacre in Washing
ton, he denied all knowledge Of either
man.
Miller then was asked to give speci-
men of his writing
Denied writing certain letters shown
him by States attorney. though admit
ted one. The note was written with an
indeiible pencil, as were some Of the let
tiers. Admitted he had small piece,
given him by one Of the jail inmates.
Questioned by Commissioner Earring